Mahler: Symphony No5

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With 50 or so recordings of this great work available, with superb Bernstein and Boulez fascinating at opposite ends of the heat spectrum and dozens of other valid ones in between, a reviewer approaches a new set with trepidation and the possibility of a stifled yawn. On goes this CD, and voila! One is dazzled. Recorded live in Koln in 1997, this finds the Chicago Symphony at its most virtuosic and Barenboim at his most engaged. The bitter is distinct from, rather than taken for, the gloomy; the martial does not seem out of place with the romantic. The third movement whips itself toward the ideal frenzy; the famous Adagietto is as lovely and lyrical as it gets. The performance holds together brilliantly in the way that Mahler wanted--all the disparate elements make their individual statements, but they are clearly part of the same worldview. This is superb, really--and even with an embarrassment of Mahler Symphony No. 5 riches out there, this one shines. --Robert Levine

Mahler: Symphony No5, Music, Gustav Mahler, Daniel Barenboim, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral & Symphonic, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic

Average customer rating:

A mannered, often slack interpretation--but the orchestra is great

Among the Best Versions of Mahler's 5th Symphony

Absolutely Amazing!!

INCREDIBLE!!!

Vast improvement over Solti

Mahler: Symphony No5

Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mahler: Symphony No. 7

Mahler: Symphony No. 9

Mahler: Symphony No.2

Mahler: Symphony No. 3

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

ASIN: B00000DHJ1
Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

Symphony Nr. 5 In C Sharp Minor: I. Abteilung: Trauermarsch
Symphony Nr. 5 In C Sharp Minor: I. Abteilung: Sturmisch Bewegt
Symphony Nr. 5 In C Sharp Minor: II. Abeilung: Scherzo
Symphony Nr. 5 In C Sharp Minor: III. Abteilung: Adagietto
Symphony Nr. 5 In C Sharp Minor: III. Abteilung: Rondo-Finale

Amazon.com

With 50 or so recordings of this great work available, with superb Bernstein and Boulez fascinating at opposite ends of the heat spectrum and dozens of other valid ones in between, a reviewer approaches a new set with trepidation and the possibility of a stifled yawn. On goes this CD, and voila! One is dazzled. Recorded live in Koln in 1997, this finds the Chicago Symphony at its most virtuosic and Barenboim at his most engaged. The bitter is distinct from, rather than taken for, the gloomy; the martial does not seem out of place with the romantic. The third movement whips itself toward the ideal frenzy; the famous Adagietto is as lovely and lyrical as it gets. The performance holds together brilliantly in the way that Mahler wanted--all the disparate elements make their individual statements, but they are clearly part of the same worldview. This is superb, really--and even with an embarrassment of Mahler Symphony No. 5 riches out there, this one shines. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

A mannered, often slack interpretation--but the orchestra is great.......2005-10-17

If I am in a parallel universe separate from the one where Barenboim is considered "great", at least the Gramophone agrees with me, saying of this Mahler Fifth, "We get the externals, the hyped-up brass and the tough, resplendent strings, while a good deal has been lost in the way of naturalness and inevitability." They go on to say that Barenboim isn't in Mahler's world, just his own approximation of it.

I heard Barenboim conduct this symphony two nights ago with the CSO, and he still does it the same way as on the CD, with arbitrary changes of tempo, faked emotions, no grasp of overall structure, etc. When the orchestra isn't blasting away full tilt, which is undeniably a thrill, one notices how neutral and uninvolved Barenboim's conducting really is.

Enough. A lot of people here love this CD, apparently, but I will stick with Abbado/Berlin, my two Bernsteins, Karajan, Rattle, Barbirolli, and so on. There are lots of great Mahler Fifths out there without having to sink this low.

Among the Best Versions of Mahler's 5th Symphony.......2001-05-11

This splendid recording of Mahler's 5th Symphony is unquestionably among the best out there. Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra give a more passionate, technically perfect reading than the critically acclaimed Deutsche Grammophon version with Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The Chicago Symphony's brass section gives some of its most polished, lyrical playing that I've heard recorded. Yet the other sections, most notably the strings and woodwinds, play with the brass' high level of precision and passion. Barenboim's reading of Mahler's score is livelier and faster than Bernstein's, though he does opt for slower tempi in the second and fourth movements to bring forth these movements' rich textures with greater clarity than Bernstein ever did. The sound quality is impeccable; it certainly doesn't sound like a live recording. I'd venture to say that this fine recording will be remembered as one of Barenboim's great artistic triumphs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Absolutely Amazing!!.......2001-03-13

This recording enters a catalog full of great performances. But I can't imagine a better performance than the one presented on this disc. The first movement begins with an unaccompanied trumpet solo. As far as notes and rhythms are concerned, the solo is not difficult. But the fact that this is an unaccompanied solo and the fact that it is the first notes heard in the symphony causes even the most talented soloists to sweat. After all, you never get a second chance to make a first impression in a live performance. The soloist in this recording makes a great first impression. One senses a natural unfolding of the solo. The beautiful tone quality achieved by the soloist forshadows the playing of the orchestra to come. The Chicago Symphony plays so flawlessly that you won't believe it's a live recording. Just listen to the lower strings at the beginning of the second movement. They play with incredible intensity. I like the slower tempo taken by Barenboim in this movement. It makes the music sound fresh. Let's face it. This is a complicated, noisy movement that can sound muddy if played by those less capable. Under Barenboim's steady hand, the tempo never drags. The Adagietto is moving, especially the final bars. Again, the basses shine at the end of the movement. The final movement, like the second, can be mishandled. Once again, Barenboim adopts a slower tempo which allows for more intensity and clarity. Of course, the CSO is famous for it's brass section. Brass fans will not be disappointed. In spite of the bombastic nature of this symphony (that is a good thing), the clarity of the recorded sound is amazing, probably thanks to rather close microphone placement. Unfortunately, it exposes a few minor mistakes from the percussion section. Hey, nobody's perfect. The cover photo is cool too. Nice packaging. Informative notes in three languages and a roster of the CSO. I put it at the top of the catalog.

INCREDIBLE!!!.......2000-09-05

I can say it in one sentence.....This is the all-time best recording of anything I have ever owned. Being a tubist myself, I have listened to every CSO recording I can get my hands on. This one stands out. One can hear every line, every motif. The Chicago brass puts in everything they got... Dale, Adolph, Charles Vernon and Gene Pokorny, it's just incredible. I will cherish this cd for as long as I live.

Vast improvement over Solti.......2000-03-05

This is my favorite Mahler 5. From Solti's two recordings I already knew that the CSO is in a class of its own in this piece. Yet, I always found Solti's tempos a bit restless and inappropriately fast, particularly in the first and fourth movements. Here with Barenboim we have a far better reading. I know no other recording that is more true to the score. The CSO has such a phenomenal sense of ensemble that you can hear every line without ever sacrificing togetherness. Add to that a range of dynamics and a palette of colors no other orchestra can match. The only thing better is to hear them live...

Average customer rating:

How did Zubin Mehta become Mr. Slick?
A Tolerable Rendition
Comercial.
An Excellent Choice
this is the best recording available of this piece.

Mahler: Symphony No5

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 in E minor/Fantasy Overture "Romeo and Juliet"

ASIN: B000000SCV
Release Date: 1991-06-25

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: 1. Abteilung: Trauermarsh. In gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt
Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: 1. Abteilung: Strumisch bewegt, mit grosster Vehemenz
Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: 2. Abeilung: Scherzo. Kraftig, nicht zu schnell
Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: 3. Abteilung: Adagietto. Sehr langsam
Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: 3. Abteilung: Rondo-Finale. Allegro giocoso

Amazon.com

Zubin Mehta's Mahler has always been underrated, and this performance is no exception. It's true that the finale may not be the last word in physical excitement, but it's so well played--and superbly recorded--that few will complain. In fact, it features the most spectacular work from the brass section that you'll likely ever hear in this music. Give it a shot. You'll be pleasantly surprised. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

How did Zubin Mehta become Mr. Slick?.......2005-10-01

(I don't believe in doublng up on the same review, but I am posting this one twice--for Metha's Mahler Fifth and Mahler Second--for the purpose of comparison.)

How did Zubin Mehta move from the highly promising conductor of the Mahler Second heard on Decca with the Vienna Phil. to the veteran hack we hear on the Mahler Fifth from New York? As a student Mehta studied in Vienna, and he fully desrved to lead the Philharmonic when he recorded this "Resurrection," at the height of his populairty in L.A. But from the moment he took over the New York Phil., succeeding the controversial Pierre Boulez, he started on a deline into slick, routine, uninvolved conducting that has few highlights.

His NY Phil. recordings for CBS are essentially forgotten, and with good reason. Listen to this return engagement condcuting the Mahler Fifth, and what do you hear? Impatient, rushed tempi, blatant phrasing that dumbs down Mahler's musical intent, indifference to emotion and inner meaning, apparent ignorance of Mahler style. None of those defects exist in the excellent and idiomatic reading of the Ressurection. The gaudy brass playing in the Fifth sticks out musically like a sore thumb, a far remove from the brilliant and musically satisfying brass on the Vienna recording.

The saddest decline in conducting talent must be Mehta's and Lorin Maazel's, whose superficiality and apprent boredom are equal to his. It's too bad the NY Phil. is burdened with Maazel now--no doubt they are headed into a totally forgettabel era to mirror the one Mehta reigned over thirty years ago.

A Tolerable Rendition.......2002-01-25

Mahler's fifth symphony in many ways mirrors Beethoven's third. A lament for a fallen hero or friend is followed by a period of unease, the pendulum easily able to swing from happiness to depsair. The final movement presents a bumptious, positive mood that concludes the entire piece.

The fifth symphony, although a raucous and intellectual work so characteristic of its composer, is not as emotionally gratifying as Mahler's third or second symphonies. That said, the New York Philharmonic lives up to its potential, and Zubin Mehta once again displays his mastery of the ensemble and its capabilities.

The mixing, however, leaves much to be desired. Although the liner notes call attention to the measures used to eliminate spatial timing problems, off-beat phrases appear in the final movement, making it very difficult for the listener to maintain a stable grip on the precise tempo. The brass and strings seem to be at odds, coming together for a few seconds of unity, then diverging into slightly irregular tempos.

The strings are a glaring oversight on this recording. Admittedly, the horns have rarely sounded better on any Mahler recording, but the strings become inaudible in the louder phrases. Although a key element to the finale, they sound muddled and muted. It seems the sound was allowed to "bounce around" too much before coming to the microphones, which leaves them without presence or definition.

Zubin Mehta is a master of Mahler, better than Leonard Bernstein (who has been called the best Mahler conductor ever). Mehta will always have his place at the top of my list as the most expressive and sincere interpreter of Mahler's work. This recording, however, is not quite up to the quality of the conductor or the ensemble. Mehta and the NYPO are perfect- the engineering behind the album is just a bit off the mark.

Comercial........2001-03-08

Zubin Mehta tiene grandes grabaciones de la Sinfonías de Gustav Mahler, por ejemplo la Resurrección con la Wiener Philharmoniker o la Tercera con Los Angeles Philharmonic. Pero creo que esta Quinta no es precisamente algo que me satisfaga plenamente, no se me entienda mal, la interpretación en general es buena, sobretodo el trabajo del primer Corno de la New York Philharmonic en el Scherzo y el Finale de la Sinfonía en la cual Mehta logra un gran efecto orquestal, en el resto simplemente cumple. Versiones que yo recomendaría son: Sir Georg Solti / CHSO, Boulez / Wiener Phil., Bernstein / Wiener Phil. La elección es suya.

An Excellent Choice.......2000-10-19

The CD bin for Mahler's 5th Symphony is usually very large and it can be tough to make a good selection from so many choices. That said, this recording is one that can be chosen with confidence. The brass playing in the first movement is thrilling without being overdone. Phil Smith's opening solo is the best I've heard, Joe Alessi's trombones are rock-solid throughout, and in short I would buy this one for the brass alone.

The string sound, especially in the 4th movement, is full and beautiful. Mehta may be criticized for not being the most "romantic" conductor of his day, but I can't find anything wrong with his handling of this piece. The recording quality is excellent throughout, as well. Look no further than this CD for an outstanding Mahler 5th .

this is the best recording available of this piece........1999-10-02

Zubin Mehta leaves most of the trumpet line interperatations to Phil Smith. If anybody knows how to play the lines of this work, it is Phil Smith. This recording has extremely exaggerated dinamics and tempo fluctuations. I was personally refferred to this recording by the brass players at new york phil. There is no recording currently available that even comes close to competing with the extremely high quality of this recording.

Mahler: Symphony No5; Lieder aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn

Average customer rating:

Mahler: Symphony No5; Lieder aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn

Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000C2KD
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in c#: Trauermarsch - Finnish RSO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Sym No.5 in c#: Sturmisch Bewegt - Finnish RSO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Sym No.5 in c#: Scherzo - Finnish RSO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Sym No.5 in c#: Adagietto - Finnish RSO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Sym No.5 in c#: Rondo/Finale - Finnish RSO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Tracks:

Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen: I. Wenn Mein Schatz Hochzeit Macht - Ann Murray
Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen: II. Ging Heut'Morgen Ubers Feld - Ann Murray
Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen: III. Ich Hab' Ein Gluhend' Messer - Ann Murray
Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen: IV. Die Zwei Blauen Augen Von Meinem Schatz - Ann Murray
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Revelge - Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Das Irdische Leben - Ann Murray
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Verlor'ne Muh - Ann Murray/Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Rheinlegendchen - Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Der Tamboursg'sell - Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Der Schildwache Nachtlied - Ann Murray/Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Wer Hat Dies Liedlein Erdacht? - Ann Murray
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Lob Des Hohen Verstandes - Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Des Antonius Von Padua Fischpredigt - Ann Murray
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Lied Des Verfolgten Im Turm - Ann Murray/Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Trost Im Ungluck - Ann Murray/Thomas Allen
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Wo Die Schonen Trompeten Blasen - Ann Murray

Average customer rating:

Mahler: Symphony No5

Manufacturer: Carlton Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009MIX
Release Date: 1998-01-27

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in c#, 1st Movt: Trauermarsch. In Gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie Ein Kondukt
Sym No.5 in c#, 2nd Movt: Sturmisch Bewegt, Mit Grosster Vehemenz
Sym No.5 in c#, 3rd Movt: Scherzo. Kraftig, Nicht Zu Schnell
Sym No.5 in c#, 4th Movt: Adagietto. Sehr Langsam
Sym No.5 in c#, 5th Movt: Rondo-Finale. Allegro