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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's been twenty-plus years since these recordings were originally released and it's nice to see that DG have finally packaged them altogether in a bargain box set to compete with the ever-increasing number of complete cycles, and especially the keenly-priced EMI triumvirate of Rattle, Tennstedt and Bertini (which are also worthy of investigation). I bought all but one of Bernstein's DG series as they were issued and I still consider many of them to be my benchmark. I've reviewed them all individually on Amazon but, in summary:
No. 1 - A terrifically exciting account of real flair and panache which has remained a top recommendation since its release. The Concertgebouw are just superb and the sound quality shows their famous hall off to stunning effect. Still my favourite Mahler 1 ***** ( Mahler Symphonie No 1 Concertebouworkest Amsterdam Bernstein )
No. 2 - Very slow in places but also overwhelming in its cumulative grandeur; Bernstein really storms the heavens in the final chorus. Only recently surpassed by Tennstedt's live LPO recording as my favourite Mahler 2. The New York Phil pull out all the stops for their old boss and the choral and solo singing are right on the money. Sound quality is a little too resonant - a symptom of Avery Fisher Hall's notorious acoustic - but shouldn't spoil your enjoyment ****(*) ( Mahler: Symphony No.2 )
No. 3 - A magisterial account of this difficult work with Christa Ludwig an unsurpassed soloist in the fourth movement. The Finale hits heights of passionate fervour and thrilling power that others can only dream of, and the New York Phil play their hearts out. Sound quality is the same as No. 2 but this is still a benchmark performance ***** ( Mahler: Symphony No.3 )
No. 4 - A truly charming account played with characteristic finesse by the Concertgebouw. The third movement is my favourite on record. Sound quality is the same as No. 1. The one serious drawback is the use of a boy treble instead of a soprano in the finale. The lad can sing, but is it what Mahler wanted...? **** ( Mahler: Symphony No.4 )
No. 5 - A stunning performance with the Vienna Phil on virtuosic form! In a crowded field of Fifths this one still stands out and the sound quality is faultless ***** ( Mahler: Symphony No.5 )
No. 6 - Probably the most harrowing Sixth on the market and the zenith of Bernstein's work in Vienna. For me, only Tennstedt (live on EMI, 1991) can touch it. The VPO have never been so committed and the sound is thrilling in its impact. A truly shattering experience and the star of this set ***** ( Symphony No.6 )
No 7 - Bernstein makes Mahler's 'Cinderella' symphony look easy in this tour de force performance from New York. The same caveat applies to the sound quality as the other New York instalments but this account still has few peers ***** ( Mahler - Symphony No 7 )
No. 8 - The definite and crushingly disappointing weak link in the set. Bernstein died before he could record this symphony in New York and complete his second cycle. What we have here is a live Austrian Radio recording from 1975's Salzburg Festival, mined from the archives. The sound balance is awful, the choirs sound desperately under-rehearsed, the soloists have some embarrassing moments (Margaret Price's excruciatingly flat high C at the end could curdle milk) and Lenny gets a bit too carried away. Flashes of sheer brilliance but, nevertheless, a write-off * ( Mahler: Symphony No.8 & 10 (Andante-adagio) )
No. 9 - Controversial at its release and controversial now. Bernstein adopts some challengingly slow tempos at times, to the point where the music scarcely hangs together, but he can also unleash moments of quite exceptional power and desolation. The very closely-miked recording doesn't flatter the Concertgebouw players and the sound lacks the finesse of Nos. 1 and 4. Nowhere near a first choice but it fascinates me as an interpretation and I wouldn't be without it ***(*) ( Symphony No.9 )
No. 10 - Bernstein never went further than the Adagio and this one was plucked from the archives a la No. 8 *** ( Mahler: Symphony No.8 & 10 (Andante-adagio) )
The perfect box set of Mahler symphonies doesn't exist but Bernstein is a Mahlerian of the first order and many of these recordings (1, 3, 5, 6 & 7) are widely considered as being amongst the best - if not THE best - available and this is now the cheapest way of acquiring them. Yes, he can be overly emotional and take liberties with the score at times but I am sure you will find him an engaging and inspirational guide to this music, as I always have.
No. 1 - A terrifically exciting account of real flair and panache which has remained a top recommendation since its release. The Concertgebouw are just superb and the sound quality shows their famous hall off to stunning effect. Still my favourite Mahler 1 ***** ( Mahler Symphonie No 1 Concertebouworkest Amsterdam Bernstein )
No. 2 - Very slow in places but also overwhelming in its cumulative grandeur; Bernstein really storms the heavens in the final chorus. Only recently surpassed by Tennstedt's live LPO recording as my favourite Mahler 2. The New York Phil pull out all the stops for their old boss and the choral and solo singing are right on the money. Sound quality is a little too resonant - a symptom of Avery Fisher Hall's notorious acoustic - but shouldn't spoil your enjoyment ****(*) ( Mahler: Symphony No.2 )
No. 3 - A magisterial account of this difficult work with Christa Ludwig an unsurpassed soloist in the fourth movement. The Finale hits heights of passionate fervour and thrilling power that others can only dream of, and the New York Phil play their hearts out. Sound quality is the same as No. 2 but this is still a benchmark performance ***** ( Mahler: Symphony No.3 )
No. 4 - A truly charming account played with characteristic finesse by the Concertgebouw. The third movement is my favourite on record. Sound quality is the same as No. 1. The one serious drawback is the use of a boy treble instead of a soprano in the finale. The lad can sing, but is it what Mahler wanted...? **** ( Mahler: Symphony No.4 )
No. 5 - A stunning performance with the Vienna Phil on virtuosic form! In a crowded field of Fifths this one still stands out and the sound quality is faultless ***** ( Mahler: Symphony No.5 )
No. 6 - Probably the most harrowing Sixth on the market and the zenith of Bernstein's work in Vienna. For me, only Tennstedt (live on EMI, 1991) can touch it. The VPO have never been so committed and the sound is thrilling in its impact. A truly shattering experience and the star of this set ***** ( Symphony No.6 )
No 7 - Bernstein makes Mahler's 'Cinderella' symphony look easy in this tour de force performance from New York. The same caveat applies to the sound quality as the other New York instalments but this account still has few peers ***** ( Mahler - Symphony No 7 )
No. 8 - The definite and crushingly disappointing weak link in the set. Bernstein died before he could record this symphony in New York and complete his second cycle. What we have here is a live Austrian Radio recording from 1975's Salzburg Festival, mined from the archives. The sound balance is awful, the choirs sound desperately under-rehearsed, the soloists have some embarrassing moments (Margaret Price's excruciatingly flat high C at the end could curdle milk) and Lenny gets a bit too carried away. Flashes of sheer brilliance but, nevertheless, a write-off * ( Mahler: Symphony No.8 & 10 (Andante-adagio) )
No. 9 - Controversial at its release and controversial now. Bernstein adopts some challengingly slow tempos at times, to the point where the music scarcely hangs together, but he can also unleash moments of quite exceptional power and desolation. The very closely-miked recording doesn't flatter the Concertgebouw players and the sound lacks the finesse of Nos. 1 and 4. Nowhere near a first choice but it fascinates me as an interpretation and I wouldn't be without it ***(*) ( Symphony No.9 )
No. 10 - Bernstein never went further than the Adagio and this one was plucked from the archives a la No. 8 *** ( Mahler: Symphony No.8 & 10 (Andante-adagio) )
The perfect box set of Mahler symphonies doesn't exist but Bernstein is a Mahlerian of the first order and many of these recordings (1, 3, 5, 6 & 7) are widely considered as being amongst the best - if not THE best - available and this is now the cheapest way of acquiring them. Yes, he can be overly emotional and take liberties with the score at times but I am sure you will find him an engaging and inspirational guide to this music, as I always have.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
These recordings tend to the bold, brash and undeniably thrilling. At the price they are an absolute steal.
In general there is an extrovert 'heart-on-sleeve' approach to each symphony so sometimes one might long for a little more restraint or 'good taste' (although what Mahler would have thought of the concept of 'good taste' is a moot point). Inevitably, no one conductor is going to provide one's favourite version of each and every Mahler symphony but, if one admires the daring qualities in Mahler's orchestration, Bernstein is likely to be near the top of the list. For an antidote, try Abbado.
The recording quality of these 1980's recording is good enough for all but the most dedicated audiophile.
In general there is an extrovert 'heart-on-sleeve' approach to each symphony so sometimes one might long for a little more restraint or 'good taste' (although what Mahler would have thought of the concept of 'good taste' is a moot point). Inevitably, no one conductor is going to provide one's favourite version of each and every Mahler symphony but, if one admires the daring qualities in Mahler's orchestration, Bernstein is likely to be near the top of the list. For an antidote, try Abbado.
The recording quality of these 1980's recording is good enough for all but the most dedicated audiophile.
3 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can only concur with what rjmcr said above. Sonically and performance-wise this box is a great achievement, and on that I will always find myself going back to.
I only have one point of critique, which is the very low-budget packaging the set comes in. The box itself is fine, but the discs are contained in thin paper sleeves with plastic windows (exactly like the ones you sometimes find the software disc of something you have just bought, but open in one end). It does mean that the set takes up less shelf space, but it could have been done better (with this 11-CD set I received another 10-CD set, which was almost 50 % wider).
But all in all, amazing set. Do get it!
I only have one point of critique, which is the very low-budget packaging the set comes in. The box itself is fine, but the discs are contained in thin paper sleeves with plastic windows (exactly like the ones you sometimes find the software disc of something you have just bought, but open in one end). It does mean that the set takes up less shelf space, but it could have been done better (with this 11-CD set I received another 10-CD set, which was almost 50 % wider).
But all in all, amazing set. Do get it!
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