I. Allegro Maestoso. Mit Durchaus Ernstem Und Feierlichem Ausdruck
II. Andante Moderato. Sehr Gemachlich. Nie Eilen
Track Listings (4) - Disc #2
III. In Ruhig Fliessender Bewegung
IV. 'Urlicht': Sehr Feierlich, Aber Schlicht (Choralmassig)
V. Im Tempo Des Scherzos. Wild Herausfahrend
I. Adagio (Ratz Edition)
Brilliantly performed and recorded, this is a real winner. Unlike some Mahlerians, Levi never wallows in sentimentality, and he doesn't slip into understatement. Instead, he organizes what can be a sprawling symphonic edif... more »ice with an unerring sense of the long line and flawless, finely graded dynamics and balances, clarifying structure without shortchanging local details and color so vital in Mahler. The Atlanta Symphony sounds here like world-beaters. Aided by state-of-the-art sonics, it has everything you want from a Mahler orchestra: rich, warm strings, virtuosic winds, and forceful brass and percussion. In the huge climaxes of the Finale, their transparency and sheer clout are exciting to hear. Mary Philips is a moving mezzo soloist, the chorus is outstanding, and the sound of Barbara Bonney's crystalline soprano tones rising above the chorus at her entrance will give you goose bumps. The long, slow Adagio movement from the unfinished Tenth Symphony is on the same exalted level of accomplishment. The strings glow with luminous warmth, and Levi sustains the tension throughout the piece's half-hour. An all-round triumph. --Dan Davis« less
Brilliantly performed and recorded, this is a real winner. Unlike some Mahlerians, Levi never wallows in sentimentality, and he doesn't slip into understatement. Instead, he organizes what can be a sprawling symphonic edifice with an unerring sense of the long line and flawless, finely graded dynamics and balances, clarifying structure without shortchanging local details and color so vital in Mahler. The Atlanta Symphony sounds here like world-beaters. Aided by state-of-the-art sonics, it has everything you want from a Mahler orchestra: rich, warm strings, virtuosic winds, and forceful brass and percussion. In the huge climaxes of the Finale, their transparency and sheer clout are exciting to hear. Mary Philips is a moving mezzo soloist, the chorus is outstanding, and the sound of Barbara Bonney's crystalline soprano tones rising above the chorus at her entrance will give you goose bumps. The long, slow Adagio movement from the unfinished Tenth Symphony is on the same exalted level of accomplishment. The strings glow with luminous warmth, and Levi sustains the tension throughout the piece's half-hour. An all-round triumph. --Dan Davis
"I was blessed to have performed this piece with Levi and Atlanta in the early 90's. The chorus was prepared by Shaw, and we wound up performing it at Avery Fisher Hall as well, with enthusiastic response. I left Atlanta in 1994, and, though I knew the orchestra was really stepping up to the plate with Levi in command, I had no idea they had reached this level! I received this recording as a gift today, though I have had my eye on it for a while. In two words -- absolutely astounding! I guess what we did early in the last decade was merely an early dress rehearsal for what is captured on this CD. There is none of the tentativeness in the brass and strings that was often present in earlier recordings, and thankfully, the chorus is as sharp as ever -- a concern of mine after the passing of Maestro Shaw. Norman MacKenzie is absolutely astounding -- aside from Mr. Shaw, one of the most amazing musicians I have ever met. We did (do) not call him "Stormin' Norman" for nothing...Although I have heard many recordings of this piece, the only other that I own is the other Telarc offering by the St. Louis Symphony. It is a great recording. This one, however, blows it away. There was lots of talk years ago about when the orchestra was actually going to reach the performance level of the chorus. Oh happy day! It has happened! What a pleasure to listen to a performance and recording which is almost impossible to find fault with. If you want "bang for your buck," and even if you don't, you simply MUST experience this recording. Enjoy!"
A recording of power and majesty
Trevor Gillespie | San Jose, California United States | 07/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mahler's symphonies seems to be THE symphonies to record these days, and all of them are incredible masterpieces. That goes without saying. Yoel Levi and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra have been adding to this late trend by recording many of Mahler's symphonies for Telarc. This newest release is Mahler's 2nd Symphony, which is one of his longest, yet most rewarding, and the reward comes throughout the work with many sub-climaxes. If you don't know the work, I highly encourage you to become familiar with it. It truly has the power to change your whole outlook on your day. My recommendation for this recording is without hesitation. The sonics of this recording are nothing short of superb, a trademark of Telarc. Especially in this recording, the strings glow with a wonderfully warm rich sound. The brass is blazing and the tympani and bass drums will knock you in the chest if you have the stereo to reproduce what has been captured by Telarc. Also, listen to how beautifully the triangle playing is captured--truly an audiophile delight. Beyond the wonderfully captured sound, the performance is nothing short of spectacular. While I admit, I haven't been enthralled with all of the Mahler recordings done by Levi and Atlanta, this performance is one of heart and understanding by both the conductor and players. Tempi are well chosen throughout the symphony, but the true genious in this performance is Levi's direction of the building of dramatic tension. Granted, in a Mahler symphony, tension is already written in, but it takes a conductor with a solid understanding of the work to really wring out all of the available potential. Now here is where you have to ask yourself a question: Do you like "over-the-top" performances ala Leonard Bernstein's Mahler, or do you like the level-headedness approach of say a Pierre Boulez? For me the best approach to Mahler is an emotional approach. Mahler was quite a dramatic person, and I feel that a performance must represent who the composer was and what the composer composed. With this performance, you get emotion, and if you stay focused throughout the work, I can't help but suggest you will feel spiritually recharged afterwards which is the very essence of this work. Now buy this CD and take part in a small resurrection of your own."
Breathtaking....
Trevor Gillespie | 07/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A wondurous achievement is not an understatement for this performance, nor for this recording either. If you want goosebumps, if you want to feel the emotion of Mahler, if you want a truly classic interpretation of this magnificient work, buy this cd. From one of Levi's last performances with the Atlanta Symphony, it is certainly one, if not the, best I've heard."
Incredible sonics, live, detailed and smooth
Larry Dunn | Pacific Palisades, CA United States | 11/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am not really qualified to compare this cd to others with regard to musical interpretation, skill of playing, etc., but I do have a revealing stereo system and it tells me immediately when a recording is well done.I have Barbirolli's Mahler 9 and Eschenbach's Mahler 2 also, and the sonics of this cd far surpass those. Also, I have about 85 classical cd's purchased in the recent past, from DG to EMI to Sony to Naxos to Philips, and Telarc Digital is far and away the best label I have found for warm, rich, detailed sound. The recent remasters from Philips, DG, et. al. are less digital sounding, so the early cd sound has been corrected, but analog masters appear to not have the fine detail that recent digital recordings have, when done right-- and Telarc gets it right."
Near Perfect Ressurection!
Scriabinmahler | UK | 01/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
Klemperer would admire Levi's deeply felt, noble acount of Resurrection. Had Karajan conducted it, would it sound better than this?
Very few things go wrong here, which is extremely rare in this gigantic work. No vulgar distortion of tempi, Maximum impact of every earth-shattering bang, the sense of awe in the calm, breath taking subtlety in pianissimo, masterfully measured building-up toward the massive climax, and more to discover. Most admirable thing about Levi's interpretation is that everything he does is governed, not by analytical mind, but by emotional and spiritual intensity, unlike so many of our generation of cool conductors whoes music comes, not from heart, but from head.
My only complaint is the stiff solists who sing their part like R.Strauss Opera area towards the end, and too brightly lit sound, but of course that's matter of personal taste."