Here's another of the Mahler symphonies that Leonard Bernstein truly made his own. His remake, with the Vienna Philharmonic, is magnificent, but this earlier performance has the freshness of a new discovery. This symphon... more »y has become one of the most frequently performed of all of the Mahler symphonies--a far cry from the point just a few decades ago when it was considered the most forbidding of all his works. The subtitle ("Tragic") tells it all: the symphony depicts the heroic struggle against fate, and although the work ends with fate triumphant, the music is anything but depressing. In fact, its defiant, heroic qualities provide an experience that is cathartic rather than bleak, just as true tragedy should. On this extraordinarily intense CD, Bernstein leads the world's great Mahler orchestra in the performance that put the Sixth on the musical map. --David Hurwitz« less
Here's another of the Mahler symphonies that Leonard Bernstein truly made his own. His remake, with the Vienna Philharmonic, is magnificent, but this earlier performance has the freshness of a new discovery. This symphony has become one of the most frequently performed of all of the Mahler symphonies--a far cry from the point just a few decades ago when it was considered the most forbidding of all his works. The subtitle ("Tragic") tells it all: the symphony depicts the heroic struggle against fate, and although the work ends with fate triumphant, the music is anything but depressing. In fact, its defiant, heroic qualities provide an experience that is cathartic rather than bleak, just as true tragedy should. On this extraordinarily intense CD, Bernstein leads the world's great Mahler orchestra in the performance that put the Sixth on the musical map. --David Hurwitz
CD Reviews
One of the finest Mahler Sixths.
Jeffrey Lee | Asheville area, NC USA | 04/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I sometimes think one would have to be an athlete to maintain the level of energy expended here by Bernstein in his often driving yet still sensitive account of the great Mahler Sixth. To cap it off, there is an absolutely jarring "hammer" crash at the close, though there is disagreement in regard to how powerful that final crushing blow should sound. Mahler himself eventually eliminated it altogether. Still, Bernstein includes it here, as have some others. Anyhow, both the searing and sensitive aspects of Bernstein's vision are immediately apparent. He is intense and capably catastrophic. His and Mahler's multifaceted development of the opening theme is colorful and vivid. There are also some memorable touches, including an eerie, dream-like presentation of the distant cowbells, followed soon thereafter by a poignant expression for violin. My only criticism applies to the second movement, where in some of the march-like trio sections, Bernstein is a little too deliberate in his shaping of the musical line. Here and elsewhere, however, he is excellent at portraying the darker side. In the third movement he very sensitively captures Mahler's sentimentality and bittersweetness. In contrast to Tennstedt, who also renders a very fine account, Bernstein (and perhaps the recording engineers) focus greater attention on the strings relative to the brass. This helps to impart a more musically attractive quality overall to his recording. I feel Bernstein's Mahler Sixth is one of the best renditions of his earlier cycle and one of the classic versions overall of this magnificent work."
Beautiful Interpretation
John Herman | New York, USA | 05/11/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, Bernstein takes the symphony quite differently. Some people find this dissatisfying to the likes of the subtle, detailed work of Karajan (who I agree has the greatest of Mahler sixths on record). But I found this one first, and I relate to it more than ever. To me, it seems that Bernstein tries to emphasize this inevitable drive, or fate behind the work (which you can see in the tempi in the 1st movement). As for the scherzo, I still have yet to find one any more exciting this one recorded here. No one had the pair to go out and conduct the scherzo with such confidence and agility.
All in all, Ill say that Bernstein is my favorite conductor, my hero in music, and the greatest Mahlerian."
Great recording of a great symphony
William Bard | 12/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very good recording of Mahler's sixth. It was my first time hearing the piece, and it left me in awe. The New York Philharmonic's playing is very good, and the sound quality is wonderful. I am liking this even more with every listen."
Listen to this recording first!
Six Stringer | Midwest, USA | 05/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The NYPO/Berstein M6 is an amazing musical journey. Do you find that there are some musical works, no matter how good an alternate recording may be, that simply can't be replaced if listened to first?
This recording is such a recording. It is the first recording of M6 that I heard. Stunning, amazing. It does not matter what Maestro Bernstein did "right" or "wrong" according to the "expert critics" in this recording; the whole work is greater than the sum of its parts. It is an amazing achievement considering its age and M6's lack of popularity at the time of recording.
I do not care, if the critics think Karajan's tempos and march rhythms are better (whatever that means). There will never be any other recording that will win me over from this Bernstein treasure. I also have his M9, and highly recommend it as well."
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1