Search - Mats Persson, Gustav Mahler, Recorded Sound :: Mahler: Symphony No. 8

Bad soloists

Mr JB | Karlskrona Sweden | 06/18/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is a symphony, and as far as that is concerned, This recording is very good. J?rvi brings out the best of the G?teborg sources, and it's all recorded in clear sound by the BIS-engineers. But this symphony also includes many parts of singing, and that's where my objections come. The choral parts are OK, but the soloists really aren't. I had to turn it of the first time I listened to it, take a short break and then begin again from the start. The vibrato and strain from just about every voice is extremely disturbing. This is most surprising since you're usually spoiled with good recordings from the BIS-label. You ought to get another version of this fine symphony. Solti has made a great version for Decca with just as great solo-singing as conducting, and Bernstein (though always being Bernstein) makes another almost as good version for DG. Both these are definately worth their money even if they would cost twice as much as this."

The Best Mahler's 8th!

Mr JB | 09/20/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is perhaps the best 8th I've heard...better in fact than Bernstein's impressive 1969 recording. With such a massive symphony, it's difficult to have crispness and clarity, yet Jarvi manages to achieve just that. Moreover this was recorded live! Beautifully performed and recorded (engineered). Absolutely flawless. If you can only have one copy of Mahler's 8th, this is the one you want."