Search - Gustav Mahler, James Judd, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra :: Mahler: Symphony No. 1

A Fine Mahler 1st Symphony With The Rare Blumine Movement

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 12/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Young English conductor James Judd leads the Florida Philharmonic in a spellbinding performance of Mahler's 1st Symphony which includes the rarely heard "Blumine" movement; Mahler deleted it from his final version of the score, which is the one most commonly used by orchestras today. Judd successfully leads his forces in an exquisitely played performance that isn't far removed from what you'd expect from the best orchestras in North America and Europe. At this price, it is absolutely a steal, and one worth owning for another fine interpretation of Mahler's 1st symphony."

Exhilirating performance.

Peter Pirotte | Kansas City, MO | 08/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a trumpet player, I am extremely critical of many recordings I hear or purchase, and I am also very familiar with Mahler's 1st. I heard good things about this recording, and, after purchasing it, could not stop listening to it. The first and last movements are particularly well done. The fortissimo sections are full and rich the way Mahler meant them to be played, and the Finale still gives me a rush every time I hear it. The Blumine movement, too rarely recorded or performed, is equally magnificent. Kudos to the trumpet soloist!"

Wow! What Sonics and what a Performance!

David S. Pallett | Poolesville, MD (DC area) | 04/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've only got one other recording of this symphony (the one by Abbado and the Chicago Symphony), and I got this one because it was inexpensive, and included the Blumine movement. So I wasn't prepared for the treat ahead when I loaded it into my system. Wow!



Now, I've been an audiophile since the 50's (that makes me an old geek, or geezer) and now I've got home-built speakers that I used knowledge from my Ph.D. studies to build. The system has response down to 23 Hz, and it can handle lots of power...



Let me say first off that there's a bass drum that it VERY satisfying! And the brass! One peculiarity seems to be a changing acoustical vantage point - sometimes the brass are very soft and in the background, and sometimes they're right there in your ears. Another attribute is that the strings are just a little bit on the wiry side. You get used to these attributes...



The performance is incredible... certainly the equal of Abbado and the famed Chicago Symphony. Now that I'm excited, I'm going to have to get some other recordings. but I can't imagine anything better than this one.



In closing, let me confess that the joys I experienced while listening to this brought tears to my eyes, again and again!"