If you enjoy that you might like to try Mahler’s 1st symphony some time.
Stephen
Mahler 4 is arguably the most approachable of Mahler’s symphonies, but although much longer, there is wonderful music in symphonies 2 and 3, no.5 has the slow movement made famous by the film Death in Venice (Visconti directed). Away from the symphonies, a favourite work for me is his Ruckert lieder.
2 Likes
Part 3 has been ‘pastoral’ to me a few weeks ago.
@popeye
For those old enough to remember the horn solo from the 2nd movement Mahler 7 was used for Castrol GTX TV add on the80’s.
I love Mahler But IMHO 1-4 are the most accessible 1 and 4 especially 2 and 3 need time to listen to properly (3 is 1 1/2 hours worth 2 not far behind).
4 Likes
Mahler 2 is one of my desert island discs. Done well, it is overwhelming. Always feel sorry for the choir; sit there for an hour and then come in piano unaccompanied - bit of a challenge. The closing moments are just astonishing and incredibly loud (especially at Symphony Hall in Brum). A glorious, glorious work. Did I mention I like it?
3 Likes
I’m with you. I love Mahler’s 2nd. One of my favorite all-time symphonic works.
Last year Stéphane Denève conducted the St. Louis Symphony in the 2nd. It was fantastic and emotional.
2 Likes
Some years ago I heard Simon Rattle with the CBSO at the Brighton Festival doing Mahler 2. It was a tremendous experience. I’ve only heard it live that one time - all recordings, no matter how good, are no substitute for a live performance.
@VinoVeritas, yes I remember the Mahler 7 Castrol add. I have to say no.7 is the symphony I find most difficult. Mahler 5 is a tremendous symphony. The sheer range of emotions in Mahler 9 leading to the profound last movement, it’s a work once heard, never forgotten.
2 Likes
One more thing, Mahler 4 is about heaven. I also found these series very nice done a long time ago:
3 Likes
Ensemble Amaryliis.
Found on Qobuz.Nice bright,open sound.
Although a jazzer at heart I listen to a lot of baroque music.
Thank you
N
3 Likes
@JosquinDesPrez
My first ever classical concert was Mahler 2, at Sheffield City Hall, it included the break “to think about it” after Mvmt 1, the partial wind section actually playing in the corridor not just sitting in the orchestra with mutes in. A full orchestra as specified by Mahler, a boys choir and a full adult choir. Quite a sight for a classical concert ‘virgin’.
In that performance the conductor (must dig out the programme cos I can’t remember who it was and which orchestra it’s nearly 40 years ago) chose to let silence fall during the ‘crash’ before the recapitulation.
Unfortunately I judge recordings of the work on the quality of that silence, I find many conductors rush it and some almost ignore it.
@PW42 Me too. Can we be shipwrecked together?
A symphony with usually leaves me emotionally drained but uplifted.
2 Likes
Perfectly put.
Now as long as our desert island has some decent solar panels and a full Naim system for them to power, we should be in for a treat. 
In June 1985 I went to the Barbican Centre for an afternoon concert of Leonard Bernstein conducting Mahler’s 9th symphony. I was fortunate to sit half a dozen or so rows behind the conductor, centrally placed. I recall that there were next to me a very posh couple to whom I did not really take.
As those of you who know both the symphony and Bernstein’s performances can doubtless imagine, every ounce of emotion was wrung from the intense and sublime ending of the final movement. When the symphony ended there was no sound in the hall for almost a minute—and from the side of my eye I caught tears streaming down the face of the posh lady next to me. She was not the only one so affected. I could have hugged her (but didn’t).
Mahler’s 9th has been my favourite Mahler symphony for more than 50 years—that and “Das Lied von der Erde”.
Stephen
6 Likes
Thank you for the recommendation. In their time Telemann and JS Bach were good friends, and Telemann was generally recognized as the better composers of the two. Today the opinion is obviously the reverse, and Telemann is almost forgotten. I like the idea of an album featuring both.
Claude
1 Like
I have over a dozen recordings of the Bach suites. One recent addition to the catalogue I can highly recommend is Alban Gerhardt’s, who brings to these works that seemingly straightforward, very accessible (but not superficial) approach that he takes to any music.
Cheers
EJ
4 Likes
Not on Qobuz unfortunately.
Don’t think any of the Hyperion catalogue is — a great pity.
Roger
I actually think it’s a bigger pity Hyperion doesn’t issue any records as physical SACD… to each their own!
1 Like
@EJS, yes I agree some Hyperion issues in SACD format would be great. However, you can often download hi-res recordings direct from Hyperion’s website, and so far I haven’t had any disappointments. Hyperion is one of the best classical music labels.