Search - Gustav Mahler, Carlo Maria Giulini, Chicago Symphony Orchestra :: Mahler: Symphony No. 1

The Best!

Roger W. Wood | Jacksonville, Florida | 12/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How can anyone do better? Giulini's performance of the Mahler 1 with the CSO is scintillating. Simply spectacular. Maybe that's why it also won the "Grand Prix du Disque." The other reviewer is wrong about the Mahler 1, and is right about the Mahler 9, another "Grand Prix du Disque" winner. There are great reasons for both. A lot of people may be surprised, but Giulini and the CSO are great on both symphonies. And Giulini was scintillating on Mahler, period!



In addition, Giulini has two recordings of Das Lied von Der Erde, one with '84 Berlin Phil and the other a live '87 Vienna Phil performance from Salzburg Festspiele (where he took the place of von Karajan, who was terminally ill at the time). Both Giulini's performances are excellent, with great orchestras, and the very same soloists both times, Araiza and Fassbender. In my opinion, this live Vienna Phil performance is the only challenge I have heard to the famous Klemperer/Philharmonia recording (and I have a lot of Das Lied performances by some very good people!). My preference of the two is the VPO performance from Salzburg where CMG's changing of tempos is a clinic to its listeners. And also, in the same pereformance, Fassbender becomes almost overcome in the "Farewell." And, as tremendous as Carlo Maria Giulini was on Mahler -- and he was very good! -- he is as good with his excellent Bruckner on the 2nd (Vienna Symphony, EMI/Testament), 7th, 8th, and 9th with Vienna Philharmonic (DG). Get these recordings and marvel.



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Not the Vichy Orchestra - This Is the Chicago Symphony Orche

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 09/29/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I checked on Amazon France and in France this same EMI import CD issue is stated as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. If indeed that is the case then the only reason for purchasing this import would be if this was some miraculous remastering.

Yet this is not a great performance, merely a good one, and nothing a remastering can do will change this. Anyone wishing to hear Giulini in Mahler should try his Mahler Ninth with the same Chicago orchestra.



Anyway, here are the leads to help you find much better deals!



1. The Chicago Recordings - This is the exact same Mahler 1st as this EMI reissue, plus a ton of other selections on 3 (THREE!) CDs. The downside is the music for the other selections is broken up over the CDs. It even costs less!



2. Mahler: Symphony No. 9 / Schubert: Symphony No. 8

An excellent peformance and far better as performance than the recording offered on this imported EMI CD of the Mahler 1st. If you want to give Giulini a chance in Mahler this certainly is the best choice.



If you are just looking for a single CD Mahler 1st or want another version for your collection there is a sensational live performance on Audite with Kubelik leading the Bavarian -

Mahler: Symphony No. 1

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