The Greatest Recordings EVER! Mahler: Symphony No. 1

[@klauspylkkanen8470]

I bought this recording quite after it's release in mid 1980's and it has been one of my very favorites ever since. Muti does great job with "The Titan". One passage is especially striking: the suspension entering to the first big climax in the middle of the finale and the following sonic explosion, where Mahler quite surprisingly transposes from C major to D major - WOW! What a thrilling moment! And there are many other things like that to enjoy with Philly's marvelous sound and Muti's electrifying insight into Mahler's score. I had a great pleasure to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra and Riccardo Muti in live concert when they visited Helsinki during their European tour a short while after the Mahler recording. The orchestra gave wonderful performances of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet ballet series and Respighi's Pini di Roma. The normally quite poor concert acoustics of the Finlandia Hall was somehow magically vanished that evening. It was a night of wonder of the pure orchestral sound. (Since 2011 we have been fortunate to have the fine acustics of the Musiikkitalo.) After the concert I went to back stage to meet Maestro Muti and to give my appreciation of the concert. With me I had two Philadelphia Orchestra CD's on which I asked Mr Muti to sign his autograph, one of those was Respighi's Roman Triptych and the other - Mahler's Symphony No. 1.

[@jg2977]

Found this on the Presto Classical app, will give it a listen for sure!

[@garyengler165]

It is a great recording. As is Kubelik's, and the others you have mentioned. Esp. Bernstein's DG recording. But for me - the emotional memory of first hearing Bruno Walter's CSO recording 50 years ago in college has always placed it among the top recordings on my list.

[@inesitaviolinista]

Ancerl's Mahler 1 has such a special color in woodwinds, especially in 1st movement, that it's one of my favourite versions. I will listen to Muti for sure

[@Taosravenfan]

The first is my personal favorite Mahler work. I have numerous versions that are all beautiful. The one that evokes the biggest emotional response is a newer version done live by Manfred Honeck and Pittsburgh in the early 2000s. For me, it is the greatest Mahler 1 that I own

[@SDSsongs]

I love classical music. Listening to it has enriched my life in my ways than I can explain. But I depend on people like you to tell me what's good. I don't have the musical knowledge to say, "see how he handled the winds in the adagio" or "his 'fortissimo' in the recapitulation feels a bit forced". And if I listen to multiple versions... well, again, I'm not noticing the differences as easily as someone who's more knowledgeable, and there's too much other great music to listen to for me to do a deep-dive comparison on one piece. Hmmm... not sure what my point is. Just thank you for what you do in helping to make the best of what's out there approachable to unsophisticated enthusiasts like myself.

[@fuguetaboudit]

This is exactly how I feel. Bravo! And thank you, Dave. I learn so much from your channel.

[@bartholdy74]

I'd not heard of this recording before. After watching this, I listened to the second movement on KZbin. I have three words to describe it: wow, wow, wow! 😸

[@kevinm6790]

Thanks for mentioning Mehta. My favorite.

[@maximisaev6974]

Hmm. I really wasn't expecting that. I'll have to give the Muti a listen. Thanks for the recommendation Dave! Take care!

[@GabrielValle-jh7uy]

I recently came across Jansons’ live recording of Mahler 1 with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and wow is it fantastic! That and Honeck’s recording with Pittsburg really take the cake in terms of modern recordings for me. We really are spoiled for choice on this work.

[@frgraybean]

I adore this recording! That moment at the end of the finale where the bass trombone (Charlie Vernon, I think) blows in is hair raising!

[@maestroclassico5801]

Yes! Charlie was here in Philadelphia in the early 80s before he moved to Chicago (where I think he played under Muti again)!

[@antoniocristodoro475]

Thank you, Dave, I will listen to Muti’s First. It’s a pity that Muti hasn’t conducted more Mahler. I only know his Fourth with the Vienna Philharmonic, unfortunately available only on KZbin. I don’t think it has ever been officially released. I highly recommend it to everyone-it’s one of my reference editions.

[@neilford99]

I don't think I ever knew of this recording. Will schedule to listen.

[@cfibb]

Bruno Walter’s 1961 recording of Mahler 1 (on a scratchy 25¢ LP from the cutout bin) was my introduction to Mahler’s music. I remember the exact moment everything clicked: First movement @6:30 when the basses drop that soft yet menacing low F... 🤯 I was immersed in that world, Mahler’s world, and what a ride the first symphony was! I also own Bernstein’s on DG and Solti’s LSO. I’ll check out the Muti. Thanks Dave!

[@geraldmartin7703]

My introduction to Mahler was Boult's #1 on a cheap Everest L.P., purchased out of curiosity. I had never heard such sounds and was mesmerized. (Far better recordings, of course).

[@biliescu]

Bruno Walter is my guy, too. It so happened to be the first Mahler recording I've heard. The dark, pulsating Frere Jaques changed something in me

[@twwc960]

Yep. I have many recordings of Mahler 1. Bruno Walter's stereo recording is the one I keep coming back to.

[@waynesmith3767]

Muti is a great conductor who brought my local band ( The Chicago Symphony) to his highest level in my opinion but I would not have associated him with Mahler; this is intriguing and I will have to hear it.

[@CaminoAir]

I struggle with Mahler, but Mutti's recording made it much easier for me. It's very accessible and very fine indeed.

[@leestamm3187]

I've been a CSO fan since the late Reiner era. Muti may have brought them to "his highest level," but in my opinion, that was far from their best overall. Muti was a quality conductor, but I think his best years were behind him by the time he arrived in Chicago.

[@b286guy]

I still remember a Mahler 1 Muti conducted in Chicago several years ago. It was a stunning and unexpected performance. The audience reaction was also extraordinary. It was like an explosion.

[@RichardGreen422]

I listened for the first time last night because of this video. I have to say I was not impressed by the first three movements. I thought they were fine, but not mind-bending. But the fourth movement--wow! It often sounds like a mess to me, but Muti makes it coherent, and the orchestra playing is, needless to day, extraordinary. So while this will almost certainly not become my favorite recording of the first (which is another Philadelphia recording, but with Ormandy on RCA), I see why it is one of the greatest ever.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Funny. Someone else wrote that the first three movements were great and the finale lackluster. Neither is true. All four movements are splendid.

[@mariafoodcriticopara6987]

I will listen

[@brandong3816]

I'll give it a try. But I grew up with Solti/Chicago on the London label and 26 years later I haven't heard a version I like more. Also, the Flint Symphony under Diemecke live-recorded this in 2002, WITH the Blumine movement, and was nominated for a Grammy. I was able to attend this performance. All 8 horns stood up towards the end and just brought it. Sent chills down my spine. This has always been my favorite symphony.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That Solti is a great performance, but it has no deep bass.

[@yimingjiang6513]

That solti is also my fav. It's my first ever ecounter with Mahler, and that first movement is so "electrifying" that I always want to find the same magic again elsewhere.

[@markwolf1374]

Dude! Huge props for giving a shout out to the Flint Symphony. I’ve always appreciated his commitment to Mahler in Flint. (I thought their performance of the Fifth a few weeks ago was pretty fine.) Diemecke has been posting some recordings from Flint on his KZbin page. I hope for more Mahler, but there is a 4th (a work I don’t really like.)

[@shakespearefrankenstein8415]

Likewise. My favorite symphony by anyone and also imprinted on Solti CSO. Saw them do it live at the Fox Theater in Atlanta (1985?) and it was my peak musical experience. Afterwards mostly listened to Kubelik Bavarian RSO in rotation with Georg. Tried Muti back when DH first recommended and he certainly brings the bliss in the first two movements. Today I listen mostly to Gielen once again with an assist from DH.

[@eddihaskell]

@@DavesClassicalGuide My guess is because it is an early (84) pure digital recording, they usually found a way to mess them up. I have this one and the SF Symphony/Thomas live one, I am going to listen to them today and see which one I like. I have not listened to Mahler much this century.

[@Hometruths29]

This is my favourite Mahler 1 as well. Why? Because it's the only Mahler 1 I own. Bought it on vinyl when it first came out and was highly recommended by Gramophone. For some reason Mahler 1 is a symphony I have never fully got. Maybe I will dust it off and give it another spin on my turntable.

[@dennischiapello7243]

Pressurized lyricism--great phrase, from such an unlikely combination of words!

[@rolandonavarro3170]

I missed in the list Georg Solti and the London Sym. Orch. (better than Chicago's one). For me it's top of the line 👏🔥

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

There wasn't a list. Go watch the Mahler 1 repertoire video. You'll find it there.

[@stephenchun8063]

Interesting, I am familiar with Muti's recording of Mahler 1, but I thought that Hurwitz would say Tennstedt with CSO.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Why would you think that? I have never recommended that version.

[@sivakumarvakkalanka4938]

I woulda expected Kubelik.

[@rickycpa]

BIG agreement on Tennstedt. Love his Mahler, especially the 1st.

[@Fountainhall1]

Dave, you already recommended Muti’s Mahler 1 in your One Shot Mahler video - so I bought it. It’s terrific!

[@christophersmith6841]

@@sivakumarvakkalanka4938 Yep me too. Had my $$$ on RK for sure.

[@sivakumarvakkalanka4938]

Muti in Mahler??!! Who woulda thunk?

[@marquezdrums]

But, what about Horenst.... oh, nevermind. I should try listening to some other Mahler 1s anyways. (Edit: oh wow you actually mentioned LSO Horenstein later in the video! I can't unhear that drop into epic slow motion towards the end of the finale and always miss it).

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

The missing timpani towards the end of the 1st movement really bug me, especially since the same thing happens in his 1st movement of the 3rd Symphony.

[@marquezdrums]

@DavesClassicalGuide I didn't even realize that miss, to be honest. Now I'll have to listen to the LSO Horenstein (yet AGAIN) and laugh at the flub. I'm still looking to pick up Mahler 4 Dohnanyi/Cleveland just to hear the cymbal curfuffle in the 1st mvmt. you mentioned in a past video. Just endless entertainment. :)

[@leestamm3187]

​@@DavesClassicalGuide I'm glad you mentioned that. It's always annoyed me, too, in both instances.

[@mauricegiacche4776]

Muti sticks with what he knows he does best. With Bruckner only 4 & 6 with Philly. He only tackled his 9th with CSO recently. Ditto B2 live at Salzburg with Weiner . B9 is a performance of a great beauty. B2 is less successful. But Muti’s Bruckner is far superior on his worst day, than that charlatan Nelsons on his very best. Evidently, this Mahler 1 was recorded at a basketball stadium in suburban Philadelphia.

[@igorgregoryvedeltomaszewsk1148]

Muti actually conducted Bruckners 9th with the Wiener Philharmoniker some five six seven years ago. I hope they recorded it.