Search - Gustav Mahler, Leonard Slatkin, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra :: Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" [Hybrid SACD]

Timing is everything

Benjamin Peck | 09/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, this is an ok stereo SACD. It was originally recorded at 50khz, and therefore is only slightly better than standard CD fare. So, as a freak of DSD multichannel, I do not recommend this as an SACD for audiophiles, but rather as a lover of fine recordings. I've heard several versions of this symphony and I keep coming back to this one. The conductor is much to blame, as his tempos are so alluring in their feeling that I can no longer perceive any other interpretation as being correct. If you enjoy the languished plodding of the last movement, this is not for you. Otherwise, especially if you don't have a copy of Mahler's 2nd, get it."

Superb "Resurrection"

Paul Van de Water | Virginia, USA | 04/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Telarc's SACD remastering of the original Soundstream tapes has brought this excellent 1982 recording into the 21st century. (Note that it's in high-definition stereo--not surround.) Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony and Chorus deliver a majestic, exciting performance. Kathleen Battle and Maureen Forrester cannot be bettered as soloists. The sound delivers all the impact one expects from Mahler's huge orchestral and vocal forces. All in all, this recording displaces my previous favorite, Mehta's 1975 Vienna recording.



Additional five-star reviews of this disc may be found under the listing for the CD (Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection")."

Fine Performance and Sound

Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 07/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can still remember thinking back in the early `80s that what the world really needed was for Telarc to record the Mahler Second. The label had produced some really fine-sounding recordings, and the thought of having this magnificent piece of music available in Telarc-quality sound was enough to make me drool. When this recording was released on vinyl, I was extremely excited, and could hardly wait to bring it home from the record store so that I could fire it up on my stereo.



Man, was I disappointed. The recording seemed just too blurry and distant. I could tell that the performance was a good one, but the sound left plenty to be desired.



Many years later, Telarc has released a remastered version, and even on the CD layer of this SACD release, the sound is better that I remember it. It may still be a bit on the warm, soft side, but it certainly sounds much better than it did in its original vinyl incarnation.



So we now have a fine performance in excellent sound, and I have only one quibble with the production: Mahler instructed that the first movement should be followed by a significant pause. The most natural way to follow his wishes in a two-CD recording would be to put the first movement on one disc and the rest of the symphony on the other, but Telarc (along with many other companies, alas) does not do this. Oh, well, you can't have everything..."