Search - Gustav Mahler, Georg Solti, London Symphony Orchestra :: Mahler: Symphony No. 1

A Thrilling Performance

Johannes Climacus | Beverly, Massachusetts | 12/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For all its popularity, there have been relatively few outstanding recordings of the Mahler First. The work is a minefield for conductors given the many shifts in tempo, mood and idiom within each movement. It can seem something of a patchwork unless the conductor manages the transitions expertly.



It is interesting to compare Solti's LSO recording from 1964 with his CSO version from twenty years later. The latter, though well enough played, seems slack by comparison with his earlier account. In 1964 Solti never lets the tension sag for a moment, even when Mahler shifts into low gear (as he does for long stretches in the first and fourth movements). He also handles those tricky transitions with effortless aplomb. The 1984 version, on the other hand, springs to life only in fits and starts (basically when the tempos pick up or when the dynamic level rises above forte).



1964 was evidently a good year for both the LSO and for Decca's engineers. The orchestra is really on its toes; Solti demands, and gets, a hairtrigger response from every section. The recorded sound is quite remarkable for its combination of pinpoint clarity and ambient warmth. That magical opening of the first movement is as evocative as one might wish, yet everything significant is heard when the contrapuntal complications ensue.



Altogether a thrilling Mahler First, which deserves to be ranked alongside the handful of really great recordings of this work--Horenstein II, Bernstein II and Kubelik (among the dozen or so versions I have heard). Strongly recommended."

Highly rated?

J. T. Brown | Albuquerque, NM United States | 10/29/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"for reasons unknown to me, many people highly recommend this recording. while there are moments of great music on this disc, what recording is without them? the quiet passages in this recording are very well done with intense concentration and great playing. however, this symphony has very loud intense passages that fall far short. in the final movement, for example, there are cracked notes by the trumpets, trombones playing twice as loud as the rest of the orchestra, and french horns perfroming as though they have COPD. the liner notes hint at the fact that too many recordings have been made of this symphony that do not do it justice and i think this one falls into that category. it also talks about how wonderfully the LSO plays Mahler. if this is how Mahler is supposed to sound, then i don't want to listen to anymore of his music. i would much rather listen to the Solti recording with the CSO or the Thomas recording with the SFSO."