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Product Description
Product Description
Valery Gergiev s performances and recordings of Mahler s symphonies with the LSO have garnered international acclaim. They have performed the works in Europe, North America and the Far East and their recordings have received numerous awards. The symphonies were originally released between 2008 and 2011 and will now be made available together for the first time as a beautifully packaged 10 SACD box set. Each of Mahler s symphonies could be considered a masterpiece, employing large orchestras, matching his view of the symphony as an all-encompassing form of musical expression. Mahler drew inspiration widely, but certain themes recur frequently wisdom, love, grief, mortality and death. Throughout the Autumn Valery Gergiev will conduct the complete Brahms and Szymanowski cycles with the LSO in London, Edinburgh, Paris and Luxembourg. They also tour together to the USA and Germany. Gergiev s recent recordings on LSO Live include an acclaimed recording of Rachmaninov s Symphonic Dances. Forthcoming LSO Live releases include Tchaikovsky s Symphonies Nos 1-3 in October 2012. Selected reviews and awards Critics Disc of the Year BBC Radio 3 CD Review SYMPHONY NO 7 Disc of the Month BBC Music Magazine SYMPHONY NO 7 IRR Outstanding SYMPHONY NO 2, SYMPHONY NO 5, SYMPHONY NO 8, SYMPHONY NO 9 Editor s Choice Gramophone SYMPHONY NO 6 Gramophone Recommended, Gramophone SYMPHONY NO 8 Disc of the Month Audiophile Audition SYMPHONY NO 2 Disc of the Year Audiophile Audition SYMPHONY NO 6
Product Description
10SACD London Symphony Orchestra/Valery Gergiev
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Biriani
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
More Mahler on here than you will probably ever need in a lifetime. Well played and well recorded, but not something to have on in the background. This is no lift music - you have to actually listen to it. Will probably be able to give a better, more comprehensive review of this in about ten years time. In the meantime, glad I bought it.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
slightly better than middle-of-the-road, but no 'bells or whishtles'
13 Dec 2012
By B. Guerrero
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
At the premium price that LSO Live are asking for Gergiev's Mahler cycle (sans ANY song cycles, Das Lied von der Erde, Das Klagende Lied or finished 10th), there are better choices that one could make. To look on the positive side, it is nice to have a 'Russian' take on Mahler, captured in more modern sound - "Russian" meaning that tempos are on consistently on the fast side, as though Mahler were little more than a precursor to Shostakovich (or an after-thought to Tchaikovsky). Needless to say, the London Symphony play quite well throughout the cycle.
But a big stumbling block is the generally 'dry' and 'boxy' acoustic of London's Barbican Center. To my ears, the best item in the cycle is Gergiev's surprisingly solid Mahler 8th from London's humongous St. Paul's Cathedral. The 8th featured a lineup of mostly young Slavic singers, and they do a really good job. On top of that, the recently refurbished organ in St. Paul's makes a sizable contribution. It's also nice to hear several seconds of sound sloshing around in the dome after each part (it's a two-part symphony). Also, Gergiev's cycle got off to a nice start with a fast and furious performance of Mahler's 'tragic' 6th symphony. But beyond that, I just don't hear much that truly distinguishes Gergiev's Mahler.
His 7th has an exciting and raucous finale, but the rest of it isn't terribly special. The 3rd is a pretty fast 'run-through' from start to finish, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with such a lengthy and diverse symphony. The "Resurrection" (#2) was quite exciting also, but the scherzo was just absurdly fast - almost like a needle skating across the surface of vinyl, missing the grooves altogether. Yes, I'm exaggerating but it's to illustrate a point. The 'other worldly' feel to the last movement of Mahler's 9th is completely missed at such a quick tempo. The 4th was just plain 'weird' in places.
So yes, you could do worse but you could also do better. Bertini, Chailly and Bernstein (Sony or DG) are far more attractive options (with a LOT more bells and whistles included). Even Simon Rattle - 'weird' and eccentric as his Mahler can sometimes be - gives more insight into the core of Mahler. Keep in mind that complete cycles are well on their way from both Markus Stenz (Cologne) and Manfred Honeck (Pittsburgh) - both interesting and fully idiomatic 'interpreters' of Mahler in their own right. Even though I don't care for Tilson-Thomas' conducting in his San Francisco cycle, the sound quality is significantly better than what we get from London's Barbican (if also a bit 'glitzy' sounding from S.F.'s Davies Hall). The best deal of all is EMI's 16 cd, "Mahler - The Complete Works" box.
But a big stumbling block is the generally 'dry' and 'boxy' acoustic of London's Barbican Center. To my ears, the best item in the cycle is Gergiev's surprisingly solid Mahler 8th from London's humongous St. Paul's Cathedral. The 8th featured a lineup of mostly young Slavic singers, and they do a really good job. On top of that, the recently refurbished organ in St. Paul's makes a sizable contribution. It's also nice to hear several seconds of sound sloshing around in the dome after each part (it's a two-part symphony). Also, Gergiev's cycle got off to a nice start with a fast and furious performance of Mahler's 'tragic' 6th symphony. But beyond that, I just don't hear much that truly distinguishes Gergiev's Mahler.
His 7th has an exciting and raucous finale, but the rest of it isn't terribly special. The 3rd is a pretty fast 'run-through' from start to finish, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with such a lengthy and diverse symphony. The "Resurrection" (#2) was quite exciting also, but the scherzo was just absurdly fast - almost like a needle skating across the surface of vinyl, missing the grooves altogether. Yes, I'm exaggerating but it's to illustrate a point. The 'other worldly' feel to the last movement of Mahler's 9th is completely missed at such a quick tempo. The 4th was just plain 'weird' in places.
So yes, you could do worse but you could also do better. Bertini, Chailly and Bernstein (Sony or DG) are far more attractive options (with a LOT more bells and whistles included). Even Simon Rattle - 'weird' and eccentric as his Mahler can sometimes be - gives more insight into the core of Mahler. Keep in mind that complete cycles are well on their way from both Markus Stenz (Cologne) and Manfred Honeck (Pittsburgh) - both interesting and fully idiomatic 'interpreters' of Mahler in their own right. Even though I don't care for Tilson-Thomas' conducting in his San Francisco cycle, the sound quality is significantly better than what we get from London's Barbican (if also a bit 'glitzy' sounding from S.F.'s Davies Hall). The best deal of all is EMI's 16 cd, "Mahler - The Complete Works" box.
4.0 out of 5 stars
As a download this one of the bargains of the century
4 Jan 2013
By Michael Bruce
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
As a life long aficionado of the Composer I am always interested in what great conductors do with music that lies somewhat outside their usual repertoire. Gergiev's Mahler may not be everyone's cup of tea but it is played with commitment and finesse and well able to stand comparison with cycles from those who specialise in this music.
Fans of Bernstein,of whom I am one, will find some of the tempi on the brisk side. Audiophiles may take exception to the Barbican acoustic but I think this set is very well recorded, you can certainly here most of what's in the score and the sound is well balanced. If one was to have only one version of the Mahler symphonies this perhaps would not be it but as someone who already a number I have really enjoyed listening to this as a download which for the price of a premium CD is an absolute steal
Fans of Bernstein,of whom I am one, will find some of the tempi on the brisk side. Audiophiles may take exception to the Barbican acoustic but I think this set is very well recorded, you can certainly here most of what's in the score and the sound is well balanced. If one was to have only one version of the Mahler symphonies this perhaps would not be it but as someone who already a number I have really enjoyed listening to this as a download which for the price of a premium CD is an absolute steal
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful recordings
20 Jan 2013
By Kinho
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The LSO plays beautifully here. Gergeiv's interpetations are rich and deep. Some have a different feel than the classic recordings that I listen to, but that makes it all the more interesting.I enjoy hearing different conductors takes .Some of the stand out for me are 2 4 8. This is a truely entertaining set.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
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