The Complete Mahler Symphonies

I am familiar with this particular Mahler cycle when issued in a previous incarnation but did not have it currently in my collection so decided it was time to put that right. The first thing to say that it has been superbly remastered now sounding like all the symphonies had been recorded yesterday. It's also great to have the original sleeves - an added bonus. As to the performances it is hard to pick out any individual one as they are all outstanding. If forced to pick out one I would say that the 3rd Symphony has never been surpassed. For some people Bernstein's way with Mahler is a bit too over the top but I instinctively believe that this is the way that Mahler would have conducted his music, full of passion, excitement and a visionary outlook that cannot be ignored in performance. Just listen to the end of the Resurrection Symphony or the end of the 8th Symphony. If you don't feel exalted after hearing this then you have no soul. Unreservedly recommended.

This complete works of Mahler is brilliant. The sound quality is superb even though they were recorded many years ago. The accompanying booklet is also very interesting.

This is going to be the best complete set of Mahler Symphonies you can possibly buy..wonderful recordings from the 1960's under the master, Leonard Bernstein. Filled with passion and make sure you listen to them on a decent sound system to enjoy the full strength of these majestic works. Moving, inspiring and symphonic perfection. Just buy them. Would also recommend listening to them after/during reading David Vernon's excellent book Beauty and Sadness...Mahler's 11 Symphonies. His insight really add to the enjoyment of the music.

That set is amazing but more or less the same as the other Sony set with "Das lied von der Erde". I don't know why I thought the symphonies would have been recorded with the same orchestra but on a different occasion... I should always avoid to purchase on amazon after a long day at work.At the end, the symphonies are the same (different deco though...). The question is more if you'd rather go with this set containing the Kindertotenlieder or the other one with an interesting recorded documentary and the famous "Das lied von der Erde" recorded with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.I'd go more for the second one but for Mahler and Bernstein I'll leave with these nearly 2 identical sets. One for my CDteque and the other one my bedside table.

If the Decca Solti Ring changed the course of modern stereo recording and set the agenda for many years, then this set of recordings made throughout the 1960s changed the course of not just recording but the programming and balance of musical performance for the last half of the Twentieth Century until today. It is not true that there had been no post war recordings or performances of Mahler's music, but they were few and far between and mostly came about to accommodate the wishes of major figures such as Walter and Klemperer, but there were sporadic outbursts of Mahler recordings and I fondly recall Mono only recordings by Kletzki, Leopold Ludwig, Kubelik with the VPO no less, Charles Adler and Felix Prohaska. Solti also conducted Mahler One with VPO in 1961 in Salzburg, but in the mid 60's a critical battle was raging as to whether the symphonies were the banal doodling of a first rate conductor but a tenth rate composer, or masterpieces by an eccentric genius. Grove's Dictionary still listed them as "of little musical worth."Bernstein was the ideal conduit to bring these works to a wide audience, with his public persona as a "media figure", and his frequent appearances on TV, where he was an excellent communicator and who attracted an audience as much for his huge success as a popular composer with hits such as "Maria" and Somewhere" being recorded by a gaggle of popular artists.The resonances between Bernstein and Mahler were obvious-a Jewish Composer/Conductor, Music Director of the NYPO and a master of Schmaltz-and Angst. Some commentators suggested that "Lenny" might even be the reincarnation of Mahler, a proposition Lenny did not exactly dismiss!The success of these recordings opened the floodgates and enabled concert promoters to fill halls for Mahler, and record companies to record Mahler with the certainty it would sell in droves. The rest is history.Returning to these recordings has been not just a visit to old friends, but a revelation. I had forgotten how "classical" Lenny's approach to these works had been, and I can say that with the exception of 5 and 6 and the BPO 9, I prefer ALL these reading to his later ones, where self restraint was often replaced by self indulgence.The NYPO was a crack band in the 60's, with many veteran expat European players and which had been drilled by Artur Rodzinzski into a truly world class orchestra. They responded to Bernstein in this music as if they had been playing it all their lives. The problem was always the recordings, which were thin, muddy and boxy and were improved only marginally by re-mastering for CD-until now.This set has been newly re-mastered by Andreas Meyer into DSD format, and the results are little short of miraculous. What was previously somewhat of a gritted teeth exercise is now an open mouthed one, as the detail, richness and sonic splendour unfolds as never before.The result is that this set at its paltry price becomes a MUST HEAR for all lovers of Mahler, all admirers of Bernstein and anyone seeking to explore Mahler's symphonies anew. Even those like me who have had some or all of these recordings in previous releases will enjoy a completely new experience with these recordings, and I can express nothing but admiration for this enterprise. If I had to single out any examples for particular praise, it would be No.'s 3 and 7, and 5 is not a dud as described in another review,with a particularly fizzing and angry second movement. As has been the practice with others in this series, the original LP covers and record labels are reproduced, there is a basic booklet and the dates and venues of the recordings are listed. There is available still a bargain box of his later DG recordings, which makes a perfect companion and gives a wonderful perspective on both the music and the conductor. However, if it's a choice between the two, this is now the one to buy (and I would advise supplementing it with the live BPO M9).A truly important document brought back to a glorious light. Unlimited stars.Stewart Crowe.

good value at £26 for all Mahler symphonies (apart from no 10 in its entirety).Bernstein is a marvellous translator of Mahler's intentions I believe.

I have a Geman recording of the 1st symphony. There was a style difference but the recording quality was just as good.

The content and packaging exceeded expectations.

Mahler, Bernstein, Sony - lo mejor de lo mejor.

Ein Stapel mit zwölf CDs ist zu bewältigen und entsprechend viel Zeit zum Hören verlangt die Sammlung der Mahler-Symphonien unter dem Dirigat von Leonhard Bernstein. Wie kein anderer hat Gustav Mahler die Musikgeschichte geprägt mit umfangreichen, atemberaubenden, symphonischen Werken, seinen herausfordermnden Orchesteranweisungen, überhaupt seinem kompakten Musikverständnis, mit dem er seine Epoche geprägt und wie kein anderer die Gewichte verschoben hat. Dies auch, wenn er ein Leben lang gegen antisemitische Hetzereien zu kämpfen hatte und Musikkritiker es nicht unterlassen konnten, gegen Mahlers angestammte Religion, ihrem schäbigen Judenhass massiv Ausdruck zu verleihen. Eine Situation, die es mit sich brachte, dass Gustav Mahler bis weit in die sechziger Jahre des 20. Jahrhunderts im Konzertsaal geächtet blieb. Mit dem Symphonie-Dirigat von Leonard Bernstein („Seine Zeit ist gekommen“, 1967) ist die Anerkennung Mahlers immens gewachsen und seine Musik nicht mehr von den Konzertprogrammen wegzudenken , plötzlich waren die Weichen grundsätzlich anders gestellt. Hervorzuheben sind Mahlers die „Kindertotenlieder“ zu denen der Schweinfurter Dichter und Orientalist Friedrich Rückert die Texte lieferte und die von Mahler vertonten „Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen“, sowie „Das Lied von der Erde“. Mit Vorliebe zur Akribie entsteht so ein zu bewunderndes Porträt des internationalen Musikers, renommierten Opernkapellmeisters und Operndirektors, Gustav Mahler, der in Europa und den USA Triumphe gefeiert hat. Bernstein holt in prägnanten Analysen die Kompositionen Mahlers in den Bann des Hörers, weckt Interesse am Leben des Komponisten und schildert zugleich die wechselvolle Rezeptionsgeschichte der Werke Mahlers, der bei allem Erfolg fremd und vertraut bleibt. Nicht zuletzt auch, weil Mahlers erste „Tondichtung“ (Symphonie) den für Exegeten immer noch Rätsel aufgebenden Namen „Der Titan“ erhalten hat. Titanische Ausmaße erhalten die Werke Mahlers indes unter den Händen Leonhard Bernsteins, unangefochten und mitreißend, dass man sie gern wieder und wieder hören mag …/cpg

Magnifiche esecuzioni e direzioni!Molto bella l’idea di riprodurre le cover degli lp originali e i solchi dei vomire su cd.Prezzo strepitoso.