Post by Slinger on Sept 30, 2015 22:46:52 GMT
Gustav Mahler 8th Symphony (Symphony of a Thousand) EMI CDS 7 47625 8
Recorded 1986 (Walthamstow Town Hall, London)
Released 1987
Conductor: Klaus Tennstedt
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir
Tiffin Boys School Choir
David Hill: Organ
Elizabeth Connell (Soprano)
Edith Wiens (Soprano)
Dame Felicity Lott (Soprano)
Trudeliese Schmidt (Mezzo-Soprano)
Nadine Denize (Mezzo-Soprano)
Richard Versalle (Tenor)
Jorma Hynninen (Bass)
This new-fangled idea of a Classical Album Choice poll seemed like a great idea at first blush, until I actually thought about it. Unlike the "other" album choice you can't just pick a band and your favourite album of theirs. Classical is awkward. I can't simply pick a composer and a favourite piece. I have to take into account who is conducting said piece, and who the soloist(s) might be, not to mention which orchestra it was recorded with, and even when it was recorded. Many of those decisions had to be taken for my choice here. I've actually got nine versions of it, and not a duffer amongst them, but, like the Highlander, there can be only one.
Put simply, Mahler's 8th Symphony is the greatest piece of music ever written and the final movement is orgasmic when played properly, but perhaps that's just me? Seriously, this was probably the first piece of classical music I actually fell in love with. I was never "into" classical music and a friend at work set out to rectify that by lending me his box set of Mahler symphonies. To my shame I can't remember whose Mahler cycle it was, but suddenly I liked classical music and the 8th symphony simply blew me away, so thanks for that Lofty. I like to think of it as the "prog-rock" of its day. In fact I'm surprised Rick Wakeman never attempted it, although it may have lost some of its impact if performed on ice. Mahler's stated aim was to create a "new symphonic universe" and as far as I'm concerned he succeeded admirably.
The 8th is also known as The Symphony Of A Thousand, because of the huge instrumental and vocal forces it requires, and even if they don't actually number 1,000 there are a Hell of a lot of bodies involved in the staging of this piece, not to mention a bloody great organ. [Enter Kenneth Williams stage left exclaiming - "Oooh Matron!"]
Wikipeida on the 8th...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._8_(Mahler)
Obligatory long but interesting Encyclopedia Brittanica entry for Gustav Mahler
www.britannica.com/biography/Gustav-Mahler
Useless Factoid
Gustav Mahler discovered a piano in his grandmother's attic when he was six years old. Just four years later, he gave his first public performance.
As I said at the beginning I've got nine versions of Mahler's 8th, and they all have something to recommend them. Horenstein's live reading, recorded in 1959 with the LSO runs the Tennstedt a close second, and is the best live recording I've heard. The audience (some 6000 strong) break into rapturous and well deserved appaluse at the end. Unfortuantely, for me at least, it's in mono, and I really believe this monumental work needs stereo to bring out it's full majesty. So without further ado, I now want you to listen to a piece of music that is 1 hour 22 minutes and 34 seconds long. If you are absolutely certain (you quitter!) that you won't last the course then play a bit of the beginning and then the last ten minutes or so. Hopefully you'll then realise what you missed and will go back to hear the whole, wonderful, thing. Perhaps I should have picked The Minute Waltz.
And Finally...
In closing let me recommend a real bargain. A 16 disc set billed as "Gustav Mahler: Complete Works [150th Anniversary]"
It has all of the Symphonies and Lieder including this Tennstedt reading of the 8th; all for around £20.00. Don't be put off by the price, these are not second rate recordings. It's a great way to get into the great man without spending a fortune.
www.amazon.co.uk/music/dp/B003D0ZNWY
Recorded 1986 (Walthamstow Town Hall, London)
Released 1987
Conductor: Klaus Tennstedt
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir
Tiffin Boys School Choir
David Hill: Organ
Elizabeth Connell (Soprano)
Edith Wiens (Soprano)
Dame Felicity Lott (Soprano)
Trudeliese Schmidt (Mezzo-Soprano)
Nadine Denize (Mezzo-Soprano)
Richard Versalle (Tenor)
Jorma Hynninen (Bass)
This new-fangled idea of a Classical Album Choice poll seemed like a great idea at first blush, until I actually thought about it. Unlike the "other" album choice you can't just pick a band and your favourite album of theirs. Classical is awkward. I can't simply pick a composer and a favourite piece. I have to take into account who is conducting said piece, and who the soloist(s) might be, not to mention which orchestra it was recorded with, and even when it was recorded. Many of those decisions had to be taken for my choice here. I've actually got nine versions of it, and not a duffer amongst them, but, like the Highlander, there can be only one.
Put simply, Mahler's 8th Symphony is the greatest piece of music ever written and the final movement is orgasmic when played properly, but perhaps that's just me? Seriously, this was probably the first piece of classical music I actually fell in love with. I was never "into" classical music and a friend at work set out to rectify that by lending me his box set of Mahler symphonies. To my shame I can't remember whose Mahler cycle it was, but suddenly I liked classical music and the 8th symphony simply blew me away, so thanks for that Lofty. I like to think of it as the "prog-rock" of its day. In fact I'm surprised Rick Wakeman never attempted it, although it may have lost some of its impact if performed on ice. Mahler's stated aim was to create a "new symphonic universe" and as far as I'm concerned he succeeded admirably.
The 8th is also known as The Symphony Of A Thousand, because of the huge instrumental and vocal forces it requires, and even if they don't actually number 1,000 there are a Hell of a lot of bodies involved in the staging of this piece, not to mention a bloody great organ. [Enter Kenneth Williams stage left exclaiming - "Oooh Matron!"]
Wikipeida on the 8th...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._8_(Mahler)
Obligatory long but interesting Encyclopedia Brittanica entry for Gustav Mahler
www.britannica.com/biography/Gustav-Mahler
Useless Factoid
Gustav Mahler discovered a piano in his grandmother's attic when he was six years old. Just four years later, he gave his first public performance.
As I said at the beginning I've got nine versions of Mahler's 8th, and they all have something to recommend them. Horenstein's live reading, recorded in 1959 with the LSO runs the Tennstedt a close second, and is the best live recording I've heard. The audience (some 6000 strong) break into rapturous and well deserved appaluse at the end. Unfortuantely, for me at least, it's in mono, and I really believe this monumental work needs stereo to bring out it's full majesty. So without further ado, I now want you to listen to a piece of music that is 1 hour 22 minutes and 34 seconds long. If you are absolutely certain (you quitter!) that you won't last the course then play a bit of the beginning and then the last ten minutes or so. Hopefully you'll then realise what you missed and will go back to hear the whole, wonderful, thing. Perhaps I should have picked The Minute Waltz.
And Finally...
In closing let me recommend a real bargain. A 16 disc set billed as "Gustav Mahler: Complete Works [150th Anniversary]"
It has all of the Symphonies and Lieder including this Tennstedt reading of the 8th; all for around £20.00. Don't be put off by the price, these are not second rate recordings. It's a great way to get into the great man without spending a fortune.
www.amazon.co.uk/music/dp/B003D0ZNWY