Re: Re: Re: orchestral recordings


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Posted by Jay Bertolet on June 11, 1999 at 13:11:52:

In Reply to: Re: Re: orchestral recordings posted by John Hreha on June 11, 1999 at 12:01:07:

It depends on how you define "best". Mahler 1 has the only extended solo (in the 3rd movement) of any of the symphonies but not much else in the part. Mahler 2 doesn't have any real solos but lots of notes and some of the loudest writing of all the symphonies. Mahler 5 has a few brief solos, one that is fairly technical, and lots of notes but nothing overly loud or difficult. Mahler 6 has the most notes, and the most loud playing, and one important, if not lengthy, solo (in the last movement).

I've been real lucky with the orchestra I play with in that we've gotten a reputation as a "Mahler specialist" kind of orchestra. We've been asked to record all the Mahler symphonies by a couple of record companies and our conductor has programmed all the symphonies (except the 9th) since he's been here and after finishing them all we're going back and doing them again. Having played all these symphonies, I can say that the only time I was ever close to tired after a performance was after the 6th symphony. Mahler 6 is an incredible blow! It is a pretty great piece too. We've done the 1st symphony a number of times (even released a CD of it on Harmonia Mundi) including this past season and it is a great piece but I still think the 6th is far and away the most challenging of the lot. In any event, they are all great pieces to know and listen to. Enjoy!


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