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I'm looking for recommendations of recordings of Mahler's 2nd Symphony. I own the CSO/Solti, NYPhil/Bernstein, and the BSO/Ozawa recordings. I've become quite interested in the 4th movement of the work and I'm looking for recordings where this movement is especially strong. (I also enjoy the Concertgebouw/Bernstein Wunderhorn Urlicht). Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Tubainsauga wrote:I've become quite interested in the 4th movement of the work and I'm looking for recordings where this movement is especially strong.

Are you sure you mean the 4th movement? That is the short movement with no tuba

If you mean the 5th movement - I have a particular liking for the Kaplan/London Symphony Orchestra recording

I do in fact mean the fourth movement. The fifth movement is great, I love the chorale, and it's a blast to play, but I'm a big fan of the 4th. (though the ending on the third movement made me love the contrabassoon more then I had before.)

I'll second Blokes recommendation, the San Fransisco recording is excellent. Beautiful playing by the orchestra and Jeff Anderson sounds wonderful.

Norm

My vote goes to either Boston/Ozawa (Mr. Schmitz's playing throughout the entire symphony.) Or the recent performance done by the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Ivan Fischer. (Magnificent playing!)

Berliner Philharmoniker, Bernard Haitink
Phillips.

CBSO - Simon Rattle.

Vienna Philharmonic/Pierre Boulez.

Just released last June. Two words...Walter Hilgers.

Plus it the Vienna Philharmonic playing Mahler. It gets no better.

I 2nd Neptune's recommendation. Gilbert Kaplan is an authority on the "Resurrection". Here is a link to the Pittsburg Symphony website with his bio.

http://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/pghsy ... ert+Kaplan

For a different take on that piece . . .

The recording of Thomas Hampson doing Das Knaben Wunderhorn with piano is incredible, and Urlicht (the 4th movement) is absolutely breathtaking.

Steve Lamb

I wanted to reply in a thoughtful manner since Mahler's Second Symphony has been on my top two favorites list for close to thirty-five years. But Barry essentially took all the words out of my mouth. Excellent summary, Barry. And Bernstein's old New York LP from the '60s still gives me chills despite the less-than-stellar playing by the orchestra. Noting that you are in San Francisco, and that I once lived there, it pains me that Michael Tilson-Thomas' interpretation doesn't have the fire I had so hoped for. Neither did Blomstedt's earlier recording. For now that Boulez DVD is very satisfying.

Greg

I am probably Biased, but as far as tuba playing....I would suggest everyone listen to the Dallas/Litton recording from around 1999. Some would say that the conductors interpretation is lacking...but there is some really great playing...Check it out

http://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphony-R ... 52-4485736