Mahler: simfonieën (Brilliant Classics)

In een doos met 11 cd's (voor E 13,60) alle (voltooide) simfonieën van Mahler.
In de nieuwsgroep rec.music.classical.recordings vond ik onderstaande "first impressions" van Rob Greer, die toestemming verleende om dit hier over te nemen.
Een meer uitgewerkte recensie van Tony Duggan is te vinden op MusicWeb
Zie ook de pagina BOXED SETS of MAHLER Symphonies van Tony Duggan.
simf. dirigent orkest impressions
1 Simonov RPO Excellent performance, idiomatic and interesting.  Sound is very powerful but with some glare.
2 Vonk Residentie Orkest Very good performance.  Sound is low level, with good percussion and brass, but weak, thin string sound and unimpressive organ.
3 Horenstein LSO Outstanding performance -- one of the best ever.  Sound excellent as well; still has a burst of white noise near the end of VI that I remember from the Unicorn transfer (must be in the master).
4 Haenchen Netherlands PO Surprise! outstanding performance, very involved and idiomatic.  Sound also very good; some audience participation.  Blumine thrown in for good measure.
5 Neumann Leipzig Gewandhaus Well played but episodic, and frequently lacking intensity. Sound good.
6 Haenchen Netherlands PO Another outstanding performance.  Sound is very good except for weak timpani.
7 Masur Leipzig Gewandhaus Well played but dull conception.  Sound good.
8 Jarvi Gothenburg Very fast performance; in spots, this is very exciting (e.g. Accende lumen sensibus), but at times seems superficial.  Singing variably convincing; the bass is powerful in "Infirma nostri corporis".  Sound has incredible dynamic range and the organ is captured very well (can feel lower partials).
9 Neumann Leipzig Gewandhaus Quite good performance and playing, with very good sound.


All in all, for about $25 (from Berkshire Record Outlet*), quite a bargain. Beware the lack of texts/notes.  If you're like me, and in a fit of insanity you sold your Horenstein 3 a while back, this is like buying that on sale and getting 9 bonus discs with it.  Many of the others, though, are worthy in their own right.

Rob Greer
St. Louis, MO
*I have no connection to Berkshire Record Outlet except as a customer who's spent untold sums there.