What are you listening to?

[DaveF]

Symphony 6 from this great set.

[Seán]

I picked this [Sevtlanov/Mahler recording] up in Tower yesterday and was eagerly waiting the chance to hear it. Given my previous experiences with Svetlanov recordings, I had high expectations for this one. So this morning I fired up Symphony 1.
5 mins later I was shellshocked. This is without doubt the worst Mahler recording that I have ever come across. Painfully slow, but the worst part is the extremely poor quality of the recording. Its no better than a highly compressed mp3 and I had to have the volume turned up to twice the level I'd normally have it at just to be able to hear some of it properly. I began to think(and hope) that it was a dud recording and a replacement set would be ok. So I had a browse over on the Gustav Mahler forum to see if there was a mention of this boxset. There was, and it got slated for its poor quality.
Luckily I was due back in town today anyway, so I went into Tower and got a refund for it without any hassle. No doubt it will show up back on the shelves again. I think at this stage I know a good Mahler recording when I hear one and this boxset is one to avoid at all costs!

Dave, I love Svetlanov's work, however, I would not be tempted by his Mahler recordings, thanks for the reportage. I will definitely give it a miss. I would be tempted to get the Kondrashinn Mahler recordings but they are not high up on my wish list either, there are far too many other sets on my list before them.

[DaveF]

Dave, I love Svetlanov's work, however, I would not be tempted by his Mahler recordings, thanks for the reportage. I will definitely give it a miss. I would be tempted to get the Kondrashinn Mahler recordings but they are not high up on my wish list either, there are far too many other sets on my list before them.

The only big set that I'm missing is the Abbado one but I'm not sure if would offer anything different to what I already have. But one can never have too much Mahler at the same time. :-D

[Seán]

For a little more than €10 one can be the proud owner of the Kuchar/Smetana set, it's marvelous.



Smetana
Ma Vlast
Wallenstein's Camp
Richard III
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra,
Theodore Kuchar conducting

[Seán]

Dave, I love Svetlanov's work, however, I would not be tempted by his Mahler recordings, thanks for the reportage. I will definitely give it a miss. I would be tempted to get the Kondrashinn Mahler recordings but they are not high up on my wish list either, there are far too many other sets on my list before them.

The only big set that I'm missing is the Abbado one but I'm not sure if would offer anything different to what I already have. But one can never have too much Mahler at the same time. :-D

Yeah, I'd like to get the Abbado, complete the Chailly & Solti sets, get the Gielen & MTT and then take stock of where I am. Keep playing the lotto!

[DaveF]

My first recording of Bach's Mass in B Minor. A beautiful work and nowhere near as challenging as I though it would be.

[DaveF]

Yeah, I'd like to get the Abbado, complete the Chailly & Solti sets, get the Gielen & MTT and then take stock of where I am. Keep playing the lotto!

Gielan and MTT for me too and maybe the Sinopoli.

[fergus]

....This is without doubt the worst Mahler recording that I have ever come across. Painfully slow, but the worst part is the extremely poor quality of the recording.... and this boxset is one to avoid at all costs!

WOW what a bummer Dave, and how disappointing! Thanks for the brutally honest assessment on that one!

[fergus]

That is a great set and if one only has this as one's Tchaikovsky representation in your collection you will be very well served.

[fergus]

Yeah, I'd like to get the Abbado, complete the Chailly & Solti sets, get the Gielen & MTT and then take stock of where I am. Keep playing the lotto!

Gielan and MTT for me too and maybe the Sinopoli.

As you know I have this set....



and I find it excellent and would highly recommend it.

I am almost done for the moment with collecting Mahler. The only items that I actually want are a few more Barbirolli's and possibly the Bernstein cycle.