Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential for all Mahlerians, 14 Nov 2006
Until this set of DVDs was released last year, those wanting to hear Bernstein's Mahler had the choice of the 1960s studio performances on Sony Classical or the 1990s live performances on Deutsche Grammophon. These Vienna performances, recorded between 1971 and 1976 are more consistent than the Sony and DG recordings and in some ways combine the best features of both sets. In particular, the DVD collection contains two of the best ever performances of the 8th and 9th Symphonies.
The 8th Symphony gets off to an electrifying start and continues in this vein all the way through to the conclusion of the work. In between, Bernstein is sensitive to every mood of the symphony. This is undoubtedly a great performance. The DG set on CD includes a performance from Salzburg given around the same time, but this Vienna version is more polished - probably because it is edited from more than one concert. It is interesting to watch how Bernstein marshals the large forces. I was also amused to see Bernstein's autograph on the front of the organist's score, seen right at the start of the first movement.
The 9th Symphony, recorded in Berlin in 1971, is very compelling, with an almost unbearably intense performance of the final Adagio. The camera focuses rather closely on Bernstein's expressions here and I must admit I was tempted to shut my eyes and just concentrate on the music. However, it is interesting to see the string players as they watch Bernstein carefully during the very slow coda.
The 6th receives a very fine performance, especially in the finale. This was the last symphony to be recorded, in 1976. Incidentally, Lenny is sporting a beard here, making him look bizarrely like Sean Connery.
The 7th Symphony is one work that Bernstein performs consistently well in all three sets. If I marginally prefer the version from the DG set, it's because it's the version I grew up with. However, it's good to hear the Vienna Philharmonic playing this music and it is a benefit of DVD that one can see the large variety of expressions Bernstein uses to encourage the players' performance in the mercurial finale.
The 4th Symphony receives an excellent performance, and the 1st Symphony is not far behind. In fact, I prefer this recording of the 1st Symphony to the DG one (which I think is overrated).
For me, the least interesting performance is probably "Das Lied von der Erde". Although the contralto is the excellent Christa Ludwig, Bernstein seems to be working very hard to encourage the Israel Philharmonic and not getting much in return. I felt similarly about the 5th Symphony, a work I do not respond to very often.
The 2nd symphony, filmed in Ely Cathedral with the LSO, is visually arresting but for me the music lacks sufficient intensity. Bernstein's 1963 performance with the NYPO is much better, I feel.
Finally, I was expecting much from the 3rd Symphony, given the excellent of the 1961 recording. Much of the Vienna performance is very good, including a suitably craggy first movement. But the posthorn solo in the 3rd movement lacks atmosphere and the final movement is rather plain, with some poor playing from the brass players near the end.
I don't wish too much of these issues, as all Bernstein Mahler performances are of interest. However, I do have an issue with the sound recording. I've not seen anyone else comment on this issue, but it sounds as if the volume levels were trimmed in the 1970s to keep the dynamic range suitable for a TV broadcast. The result is that solo instruments and voices are often artificially loud while orchestral tuttis are often rather dimished. An example is the 4th Symphony, where a volume setting appropriate for the 3rd movement climax then results in Edith Mathis's vocal sounding far too obtrusive in the final movement. I imagine that correcting this problem would have required a lot of guesswork on the part of the engineers as to what the volume levels were supposed to be. However, the result is that I found myself having to adjust the volume level quite regularly to appreciate the music fully. This is unfortunate, as the sound is otherwise clear and well balanced.
There are no such problems with the visual interpretation. Humphrey Burton's directing is sensitive and imaginative throughout the set. There are some interesting documentaries as well, although annoyingly there are no subtitles for the rehearsal sequences in German.
Despite the problems with the sound, I have no hesitation in giving this set 5 starts. No other set of the Mahler symphonies is as consistently interesting or powerful, and at least half of the performances here are as good as any recorded.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bernstein IS Mahler!, 11 Oct 2006
Not my words, actually - rather those of Edward Seckerson on BBC Radio 3's "Building a Library" classical CD programme, after choosing Lenny's Mahler 1 with the Concertgebouw as his top recommendation.
To hear Bernstein conduct Mahler is tremendous; to see him is positively wonderful. No-one could accuse him of not giving his all to realising the composer's intentions and these testaments to the art of real conducting show the blood, sweat (plenty of that in evidence) and tears that Lenny willingly gave to bring Mahler's compositions to life.
Bernstein cajoles the VPO (who, let us not forget, at this time in the late 60s/early 70s still regarded Mahler as a third rate composer), caresses them, summons up the creepy and often downright sinister Mahlerian aural landscapes and in climaxes sets a torch to the orchestral sound with such commitment and involvement the viewer really cannot sit dispassionately by, but is forced to join conductor, singers and and orchestra on their voyage of discovery.
DG have worked wonders on the image and the DTS sound is excellent (especially given the age of some of the films).
The bonus disc covers Lenny in rehearsal and is a fascinating document covering Das Lied von der Erde and the gut-wrenching 9th symphony and he talks absorbingly (swathed in cigarette smoke - marvellously un-PC!) about what Mahler meant to him and how he approaches the music.
If you love Mahler and don't buy this wonderful set while it's still available, you need cranial surgery.
Recommended wholeheartedly and without a moment's hesitation. Marvellous!
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mahler unsurpassed, 8 Feb 2006
Some of these recordings go back 30 years. Not flawless in (video, audio)quality but I wonder who or what and when someone is going to be able to surpass these long awaited treaures. Thanks to all producers in charge, thanks for colours corrected and courage in releasing this monument.
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