Search - Mahler, Baker, Tilson Thomas :: Symphony 3 / Ruckert Lieder

Mahler #3 w/Michael Tilson Thomas

Ed Luhrs | Long Island, NY USA | 04/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Tilson Thomas does an amazing job conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in this, the longest symphony in the repertory. The massive first movement moves with clarity and cohesion. Though a short bit of a trumpet solo gets overpowered during one point in the recording, on the whole the definition of sound is quite impressive. The second movement woodwinds are beautiful, and the contrast between the playful scherzo & ethereal posthorn solo in the third movement keeps one's interest. Janet Baker & Southend Boy's Choir in movements 4 + 5 are each very fine--as always, Dame Janet is a blessing (does a fine job on the Ruckert-Lieder at end of this recording, not quite the same as when she sang under John Barbirolli, but still awesome!). And yes, the highlight of the whole recording is the slow sixth movement, which is here performed in a unspeakably beautiful manner. In short, don't be daunted by the dorky picture of Michael Tilson Thomas on the front cover: the whole recording here is one of the best (perhaps second best after the old Horenstein recording, which I'm told is among the best Mahler performances ever.)"

In the top tier of Mahler 3's

Ed Luhrs | 04/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why all the hubub about Horenstien's 3rd? It's been bested by more than one conductor over the years and MTT is one of them. The energy contatined in this performance makes this recording more than a match for Horenstien's version and just about all others as well. If you want a recording of this symphony (and why wouldn't you?) this recording, Salonen's recording with the LAPO, or Lopez-Cobos's with the Cincinnati Symphony are the ones to go with. Horenstien's is very good, but this is better."