Symphonie No.1: 1. Langsam. Schleppend. Wie ein Naturlaut - Im Anfang sehr gemachlich
Symphonie No.1: 2. Kraftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell - Trio. Recht gemachlich
Symphonie No.1: 3. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
Symphonie No.1: 4. Sturmisch bewegt
Claudio Abbado recorded a good, if not overwhelming, performance of this piece with the Chicago Symphony at the very beginning of the digital era. Well, here he is again with a vastly inferior orchestra (in Mahler, at leas... more »t), and a recording of no special distinction. His interpretation, too, has lost some of its impact and tautness, which is so often the case with this conductor's remakes. If you want this symphony in digital, try Leonard Bernstein on DG, Neeme Järvi on Chandos, or Riccardo Chailly on London, all of which are magnificent. --David Hurwitz« less
Claudio Abbado recorded a good, if not overwhelming, performance of this piece with the Chicago Symphony at the very beginning of the digital era. Well, here he is again with a vastly inferior orchestra (in Mahler, at least), and a recording of no special distinction. His interpretation, too, has lost some of its impact and tautness, which is so often the case with this conductor's remakes. If you want this symphony in digital, try Leonard Bernstein on DG, Neeme Järvi on Chandos, or Riccardo Chailly on London, all of which are magnificent. --David Hurwitz
hardhelmet (lyee@netvigator.com) | hong kong | 09/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even the CSO would agree that the BPO could not be vastly inferior in Mahler than themselves (though they would love that be true). a very solid, detail and above all intellectual reading of Mahler 1. if you have seen their rehersals (don't know if its the same performance) on LD, you'd know that here the BPO were playing with real passion under Abbado. the recording will satisfy anyone unless you demand audiophile standard. i especially appreciate abbado's controlled but very passionately driven last movement, as oppose to the march like bombard playing so often encounter nowadays. not for some one who prefers rock-like mahler."
Although D. Hurvitz opinion , BPO is excelent
roberto guersoni giarola | Philadelphia, PA USA | 12/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mr. Hurvitz are not able to appreciate anything that come from BERLINER PHILARMONIKER . Maybe he has personal reasons!? I don`t know. I`m my opinion , we need to forget everything but the music, when we are listening a record. That`s the reason why I think this cd one of my favourites . The first time that I listened it in 1991 , I was Socked , I never ever listened Mahler N. 1 like that. The second movement is a perfect example of how a orchestra must play! the agreement of sounds of the intruments , the combination of tones! a real exercise of harmony!. Perfection? no .Music is the great " mirror" of the human being , and this adjective do no belong it. If you like to listen passionate "music" , without beeing wooried with some small " technical " mistakes , this cd is a extraordinary option.I attempted a concert of Abbado conducting this music. I can guarantee that the sound of the cd reminds the live concert at Berlin Philarmonie hall."
Power Play!
Henry A. Filippone | Virginia, USA | 04/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This performance is outstanding! The recording is remarkable. The applause and acclaim from the audience tell all. No comparison to a namby-pamby Bernstein is acceptable.In an interview, Mahler confessed that he initially had tackled this composition with a reverence that would be expected from a young, arty fellow growing up in an age of sonorous fakes like Brahms and Schumann, but soon abandoned a "meaningful" construction and just tried to sound good by throwing in the kitchen sink, an amalgam of sounds from eastern Europe, the Mid-East, and who-knows-where.His later symphonies dragged on, just as inanely constructed, but without the spectacular sounds and crescendos of his first. The Abbado performance captures the force of this showstopper, and Abbado conducts with the brio of Toscanini. He obviously has a commanding presence and has earned the personal respect of his orchestra to get the militarily-precise downbeats, and transitions from thrilling peaks of rocking sound to pastoral dreaminess."
How objestive is this??!
yasser sharaf | Egypt | 05/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well I was shocked at first by Mr Hurwitz's review and his heroic statement, the BPO is much inferior to the Chicago orch. at least in Mahler, but after reading the response of the listners I find it futile to respond to him. First, point of culture; I love the Chicago orchestra with it's renowned brass section, and they produced a glowing account with Abbado of this symph. fo DG, I bet you that, but surely the BPO is really in a class of it's own, and I surely agree with SueLei that the BPO and VPO are the greatest two orchestras in the world and have been so since a very long time ago. Abbado produces a glowing account of this, much played, symphony, and although I prefere Brnstein's readings first with the NY philh. on Sony SACD and then his Concertgebow orchestra for DG, the Abbado has an excellent balance and the wonderful, unsurpassed sound of the BPO. As usual the string section of that orchestra is unique and unrivalled, and as a wonderful reading as this is, you also find yourself capitulating to the beauty of the sound and the magnificent overall satisfaction you get, Abbado really gives a fervant reading of the deepest intensity. I hope when amazon sets a review, it's reviewer has to be as objective as possible because all of us customers and reviwers who submit their opinion act as guides to buyers who might be perplexed as for- which version I should go for question- or writing our opinion with no personal feelings for what we like or dislike (regarding an orchstra or conductor/soloist) as much as possible."
BPO inferior to the CSO?!! what a ridiculous statement !!!
JR | Mexico | 04/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excuse my ignorance but, who is David Hurvitz? seriously I don't know, but I guess he is someone who has something personal against the BPO and Karajan to make such a ridiculous statements. It's well known (except by Hurwiz)that the BPO as well as the VPO are the best orschestras in the world, period.Regarding this recording, it's one of the best 2 or 3 out there. Abbado conducts this work with great passion and feeling. I recommend it highly for the performance, the quality sound could be better.Please don't give credibility to Mr. Hurwizt's comments in other reviews."