Today's classical playlist
- Thread starter RichPA
- Start date
![Bach_ Sacred Cantatas, Vol. 1 [Disc 33] - BWV 106-108.jpg](/forums/data/attachments/3630/3630051-5b1abda7847d8b973c6f89977160685a.jpg?hash=qEQ6K32Dc8 "Bach_ Sacred Cantatas, Vol. 1 [Disc 33] - BWV 106-108.jpg")
Just a question here. Gustav Mahler keeps re-appearing disproportionately often on this list throughout its time. Do we really like Mahler? Or do we often have huge stereo systems we feel need to be justified by big smashy crashy full Orchestra works that were a Mahler thing?
This is just my opinion, and I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but....
I very much like Mahler's 1st symphony, and also the 2nd -- but only until they start singing, that's when I hit STOP.
For the first I like Bernstein/NY Philharmonic, and Honeck/Pittsburgh is also very good.
For the 2nd I prefer Klemperer/Philharmonia, with Solti/Chicago a close second.
I have tried, repeatedly, to like the rest of his symphonies but just can't get into any of them at all.
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I see it exactly the same as you. I have the complete set of Mahler's Symphonies, not because I like them, but I just feel I should. His earlier works are good. But I wouldn't say great. Then as we progress I hear nothing but madness. Insanity expressed in music. I currently have number 4 on. I like number 2 then 1 and maybe 4. The rest are a wreck to me. I hope his popularity is a fad. There are so many hours of listening to music where other rarely heard composers should be given a chance, or stick with the basics. Cheers. M
KevinJS
Lunatic Member
I think some of us who have plenty of time to post, actually like Mahler and give a false impression of how much he is being played. May as well tell a story here, in case there is any interest. I used to hate Mahler. I could not get to the OFF switch quick enough. That was back in the UK, when classical music was limited to the incredibly stuffy BBC Radio 3 or the brand new ClassicFM, which did not have nationwide coverage. I would rather spend time hunting for the next frequency than suffer any of Mahler's music and ClassicFM loved it, so I spent a lot of time driving in silence.
Fast forward 30 years and I was scouring Amazon, looking for Telarc recordings. I came across Mahler's 8th, by Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and it was cheap. "How bad can it be?" I asked myself as I hit the button. Well, it blew me away. I have no idea what I thought I was listening to but how I missed this music for decades is beyond my understanding.
For those who don't like the singing, avoid 2, 3 and 8. 4 is safe if you stop playback after the 3rd movement. If you don't want the full orchestra thing, there are several recordings of Erwin Stein's reduction of the 4th and a chamber orchestra version of the 7th by Peter Stangel and the Pocket Philharmonic. Stengel also recorded the 4th with Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen, but that brings us back to vocals.
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I particularly like the Griffiths recording. Not only does it use the Stein reduction, it also uses a boy soprano in the 4th movement and sends Mahler purists into a frenzy as a result.
BTW, I mainly listen through headphones. My hifi system is chi-fi with a couple of bookshelf speakers and a cheap sub. I don't find the relative paucity of equipment degrading the experience.
Recent plays:
Don't avoid the Second -- it's a fantastic symphony - as I said, until they start singing. (IMHO).
But before they do, it is very, very good. Took awhile to grow on me, but I now play it often.