Mackerras Mahler 6

David: I've always thought that the Fourth is Mahler's most approachable symphony and I've never heard a better recording of it than Szell with the Clevelanders. So, if you can't get on with that, I'd "park" it for the next five years, then try again after that.

Tam: I agree that Abbado's Second from Lucerne is wonderful and I'm pleased to have it. But, if you want a sonic spectacular of the work, do try to hear Gilbert Kaplan and the Wiener Philharmoniker, recorded by DGG in Nov/Dec 2002. Amateur conductor he may be, but the engineers on that occasion were exceedingly professional.

G

I think I may have heard of Kaplan, is he that American chap who only conducts Mahler 2 (kindof as a hobby) and paid a massive amount of money for a score that was auctioned recently? (or am I thinking of somebody completely different.)

May well check it out.


regards,

Tam

Tam

You're absolutely right. Kaplan made his fortune as publisher of a Wall Street magazine, called (I think) American Investor, which he sold some ten years ago. In his spare time, he had fallen in love with Mahler's music, specifically the Second Symphony (of which he owns Mahler's own corrected score, as well as much else besides).

So he enrolled with the Julliard School to learn how to conduct and, for a couple of years, went to every performance of the symphony wherever it happened to be being performed. He also spoke to whomever he could (eg Solti) about performing it. He then hired an orchestra (NY Phil?) and concert hall for a private concert to which he invited friends and clients. But a critic (NY Times?) snook in and posted a rave review, following which he was asked to play in public performances. These have snowballed.

He made a recording with the LSO (for Conifer) about ten years ago, which got pretty good reviews. Then, after he'd got hold of (ie bought for a huge amount of money) Mahler's own score, containing Mahler's last thoughts and tiny corrections, he published a definitive score and decided that he'd like to make a new recording of that score. At which point the Wiener Philharmoniker said that they'd do it with him. Now, I'm as cynical as the next man, but I don't think that the world's greatest Mahler orchestra would let just anyone conduct them for a release on DGG, no matter what financial consideration were involved. To my ears, it's a lovely performance, stupendously recorded.

I saw him conduct the piece at the RFH with the Philharmonia at the end of 2003. He sure as hell wasn't faking it. And I got to meet him and and get his autograph on the DGG set after the concert.

Truly a rather special man.

But he's vowed never to conduct anything else. Makes Carlos Kleiber look positively prodigious!

G

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
But he's vowed never to conduct anything else. Makes Carlos Kleiber look positively prodigious!

Indeed!

Thanks for the infor Graham, absolutely fascinating, may have to check it out.


regards,

Tam

Graham,

I agree about the Kaplan recording of the 2nd. It is the best version that I have. I have an Abbado recording, but I am not sure if it is the Lucerne one you are refering to. The batting order for me is:-
Kaplan (new)
Solti
Rattle
Klemperer
Chailly
Abbado
Kaplan (old)

I was lucky enough to be in London for the premiere of the new Kaplan "authorised" version of the 2nd. It was a stunning performance that will always be with me. The soloists were spellbinding. I met Kaplan afterwards and his praises were for the orchestra, the soloists and the concert hall (the RFH).

David

You'll know if it's the lucerne one (coupled with La Mer - and says lucerne in large letters on the front, was only released a couple of months ago).

I'm familiar with a fair few on that list - Rattle is certainly a strong contender, as is Solti. I think Walter merits a mention here too (I recently picked up Sony's recent box of his Mahler, Bruckner and Wagner recordings - part of their original jacket series and well worth having).


Regards,

Tam

Haitink with the Berliner Philharmoniker put in a pretty good performance of Mahler 2.

G

My experience of Haitink and Mahler is somewhat limited to a concert I went to at the last but one Edinburgh festival where he conducted the EU youth orchestra in Mahler 6 and I was not especially impressed (though this may have been down to the orchestra - not a patch on the gustav mahler youth orchestra - and the fact I was sitting too close to the front and it was a bit too loud). Perhaps I need to give him a second chance.


regards,

Tam

Well, listened to the Abbado lucerne yesterday and the Rattle today, and in my view the latter is still king (has a tension and electricity which I haven't found in any of its competitors). May have listen to the solti over the weekend.

Regards,

Tam

Thanks Tam.

The CD is in my London home. So I cannot check it out. However, I bought it 9 months ago!! So maybe it is not the version you mention.

David