Search - George Szell :: Mahler: Symphony No. 6 Tragic

Still One of the Best Mahler 6th Symphony Recordings, Now Wi

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 05/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remain a great fan of the original analogue recording which is still in the Sony catalogue, but this digital image-bit remastering has enhanced the sound quality noticeably (I might add that for a 1960s recording made from a couple of live concert performances, the original sound quality was suprisingly quite good.). Here this fine recording shows a side of Szell which remains little known, as a steadfast champion of some of Mahler's vast symphonic scores. Stylistically, Szell was more interested in emphasizing orchestral textures and cohesion, than in emphasizing the emotional qualities of this score; an aspect of Bernstein's own interpretations of Mahler's symphonic scores which became quite pronounced in his 1980s Deutsche Grammophon recordings with the Royal Concertgebouw, Wiener Philharmoniker and New York Philharmonic orchestras. Hence, one might choose to compare George Szell more closely with Pierre Boulez, rather than with Leonard Bernstein, especially when Boulez has preoccupied himself with the overall sonic architecture of Mahler's scores, rather than trying to emphasize their melodramatic aspects. In both instances then, these two conductors have tended to minimize Mahler's Romantic side, adopting a more nuanced, Classical approach to conducting the Mahler 6th Symphony. And yet, Szell has done something which Boulez hasn't in his own Deutsche Grammophon recording with the Wiener Philharmoniker; emphasizing brisk tempi for each movement, so that the performance is just barely a few seconds over 75 minutes in length. So if you're interested in a cooler, if not quite dispassionate, interpretation of the Mahler 6th symphony, then Szell's live recording remains a primary choice (One which the editors of the Penguin Guide of Classical Music has honored by mentioning it as among the finest recordings of this symphony.)."

A long-overdue re-release of a classic

AFK | Lakewood OH USA | 11/17/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cold and unyieding: charges sometimes leveled at George Szell are given the lie in this performance recorded "live" at the Orchestra's home venue: for a long time the only in-concert Cleveland/Szell performance commercially available, albeit on a rather dull-sounding LP release. Now SonyBMG has seen fit to remaster it via DSD and the results are spectacular. Szell and his Clevelanders need take a back seat to none of the classic interprters of this score, whether they be Bernstein, Boulez, Haitink, Kubelik, Sinopoli or--recently--Tilson Thomas. There are passion and subtlety to spare in this performance--on a level that most ensembles would probably have achieved [if at all] by use of retakes, editing, etc. And the sound is full, brilliant and well-balaced. Now the tricky part. This worthy disc can't be ordered on most of the conventional music web sites because--for some mysterious reason--it's available only as German import. (One on-line vendor's asking price hovers in the $40 range; while Amazon's price [$10.99] is a "steal.") If you're not aware of this recording [at least in its latest guise], what are you waiting for?"