Favourites,
Gustav Mahler
I must admit it's been a somewhat daunting task trying to pick just one recording of each of Gustav Mahler's symphonies, as there are so many tremendous performances available. I've tried to choose as wide a range of conductors as possible, although of course there are still glaring omissions: alas my final choices allowed no room for any of the wonderful recordings made by Rafael Kubelík, Simon Rattle, and numerous others.
As an honorary mention, I really mustn't leave out the series of performances of Claudio Abbado conducting the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, which are available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Sadly the cycle was never completed, as the performance of the Eighth Symphony which was due to take place in 2012 was cancelled and replaced with Mozart’s Requiem, but we can be grateful for stunning accounts of the other eight symphonies.
Symphonies
A radiant, live performance from Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra; I can't think of another recording where the horns sound so joyously jubilant. Jurowski also reinstates Blumine, the symphony's original second movement which Mahler deleted after the first few performances.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Zubin Mehta at his most dramatic as he conducts the Vienna Philharmonic. The chorus is appropriately hushed in its first entry and rousing at the end of the piece. My real reason for choosing this recording, though, is quite simple: Christa Ludwig. She gives us a truly sublime account of the fourth movement (O Röschen rot!); few others can even come close to singing like this. Wonderful.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
An impressive performance from Bernard Haitink and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, including a commanding trombone solo in the first movement, and some delicate oboe playing in the second. Michelle DeYoung is a thoughtful soloist and the Chicago Children's Choir are suitably cheeky in the fifth movement. Furthermore, Haitink paces the long final movement just right, in my view.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
A refined performance from Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra, with an exquisite account of the slow movement. Miah Persson perfectly captures the child-like quality that Mahler asks of his soprano soloist in the last movement.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC
Leonard Bernstein was never one to underplay the emotion of any piece that he conducted, and that intensity leads to a thrilling performance of the Fifth Symphony with the Vienna Philharmonic. He wrings every last drop of emotion from the Adagietto, and some excellent brass playing leads to an extremely exciting climax.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Mariss Jansons coaxes some extraordinary playing from the London Symphony Orchestra, with deep, rich strings, characterful woodwind and peerless brass. This performance also happens to have the most satisfying hammer blows of any performance I've heard!
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
I was disappointed to discover that Michael Tilson Thomas's first-class recording of this symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra is currently deleted, but I'm happy to say that his subsequent recording with the San Francisco Symphony is almost equally fine. There's some beautiful playing in the two Nachtmusik movements, and the trumpets in particular are on great form.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Although many people (including myself) love Georg Solti's classic Chicago recording, in the end I opted for Claudio Abbado's version with the Berlin Philharmonic. There's a wealth of outstanding contributions from singers such as Cheryl Studer, Anne Sofie von Otter, Peter Seiffert, and Bryn Terfel, and the choral singing is suitably monumental.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Probably the hardest symphony of the lot to have to pick just one recording for. So many strong contenders, including Giulini, Abbado, Rattle, and Bernstein, but in the end I chose Herbert von Karajan's studio recording with the Berlin Philharmonic from 1979/80. Although some may prefer his live recording with the same orchestra from 1982, I picked this earlier one mainly for the searing intensity of the last movement.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Left unfinished by Mahler, this symphony is becoming increasingly known in the performing version made by Deryck Cooke. For me, Riccardo Chailly and the Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin offer a clear first choice, with tender, warm strings, and an affectingly poignant flute solo in the last movement. Currently only available either as a download or in a box of Chailly's complete Mahler Symphony recordings.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Songs
Mexican tenor Francisco Araiza may not be everyone's immediate choice for this piece, but I like the way he brings out the lyricism in Mahler's writing. He is joined by Brigitte Fassbaender, who gives us a moving account of the final movement, ably assisted by the Berlin Philharmonic and Carlo Maria Giulini.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Pierre Boulez conducts a vivid, colourful recording of this early work by Mahler, given here in its revised, two-part version. Boulez brings out all the small details, and there's committed singing from soloists and chorus alike.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Baritone Christian Gerhaher gives us an eloquent, expressive account of three song cycles, heard here in their orchestral versions and conducted by Kent Nagano. Gerhaher treats us to some tender singing at the end of Kindertotenlieder, and Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen from the Rückert-Lieder is very affecting.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
In this set conducted by George Szell, the songs are divided between baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, who both give characterful performances. Highlights for me are Schwarzkopf's spirited account of Lob des hohen Verstandes, and Fischer-Dieskau's poised singing in Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Janet Baker, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons, offers a selection of songs from Mahler's youth. As always, Baker sings with a beautifully creamy tone. I particularly like the joy she brings to songs such as Hans und Grete and Aus! Aus!.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Chamber Music
I chose this performance of Mahler's single-movement Piano Quartet mainly for the refined, lyrical playing of the quartet led by violinist Gidon Kremer.
Available Formats: Presto CD, MP3, FLAC
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