L. Bernstein Conducts Mahler's 9th Symphony (1/9)

[slapmore]

No doubt sinfoniette you have wonderful taste. Love your choices. It´s rare to find people who know Mahler. Sibelius comes to mind in certain passages. Thank you very much sinfoniette. Keep it up.

[jrdallasjr]

In the 1980s is was a distinct privilege to know one of the maestro's top composing assistants, John Bayless, from whom I heard many stories about thought, effort and personality of Mr. Bernstein. Having met many greats in classical music, from William Steinberg (in the 1970s) to Ricardo Muti (several weeks ago), I always regret not making an effort to find time to say hello to Leonard Bernstein to thank him for his delivery of fresh sounds with ancient and modern music. He remains a force.

[agmndg]

The first movement is an uncanny evocation of death, intermixed with reminiscences of earthly life, dreaming, and struggle. A funeral cortege ascends a rocky mountain path, at the end the sun breaks through the clouds and a flock of doves descends as the coffin is laid to rest. It's both sentimental and very deep, with the force of a hallucination. The first movement is arguably the greatest in the literature. Bernstein's interpretation here reminds me of Walter's (Columbia, RCA).

[marcelouz3]

One of the geat genius in conducting , composer of American music without any doubt, is the figure of Leonard Bernstein , he adored Mahler and was one of the initiators in spread the Mahlers music in the XXth century, do not forget that Mahlers music started listening from the sixties. because Mahlers had Jewish ancentry as the same as Lenny,.I recomend you to listen the great and monumental second symphony conducted by Bernstein which brings tear to my eyes

Marcelo Uzcategui

[darkblueangel1956]

Quando ero ragazzino ho imparato ad amare la Musica di Gustav Mahler ascoltando Bernstein e le incisioni di Jasha Horenstein. Bernstein mi aveva affascinato per tanti anni. Ma quando poi ascoltai anche Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez e Giuseppe Sinopoli, non ascoltai quasi più Bernstein ! Però mi accorsi anche, cosa erano il senso poetico e intimo in queste opere così grandiose e monumentali, l'analisi infinitesimale degli elementi della composizione, e tante altre cose !!!!

[mannekien]

THE composer ever !!!

[phantsmogo]

passenger*

[OrisLover]

I love this composer man, I really do.

[boztone]

Briliant!

[MrLuminati]

Was this the piece what Mahler dedicated to his dead children?

[gaylegoh]

Wouldn't it be great to have sex with this music playing?

No, seriously, imagine it.

[ziogustav]

@gaylegoh I cannot concentrate on my woman with such a wonderful music

[mdoub]

I feel like i am listening to someone being reborn - new into a world full of hope, soon to be overcome by lost love, misery, weather, illness, and the harshness that we encounter every day.

don't you feel that way?

[Danman917]

I love the way Mahler could fill so much space and create these lush soundscapes

[spurcross]

Lewis Thomas sent me here.  I am new to the scene of of such heavy works. It seems so dark and foreboding.

[jbguadaplayer]

From which year is this recording?

[DeutschlandRocks]

Ha, this is my request too :-)

Is that CD made from a studio master tape from the 70s?

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR UPLOADING !!

[dnselmer]

I think this studio-recording with NY Philharmonic from 1965. There are two another Bernstein's live-version of 9th Symphony, from Amsterdam (1985) and from Berlin (1979). First movement speeds up 27 min. in Berlin, 29 min. in Amsterdam, and with NY Philharmonic studio-version - 28 min.

[dnselmer]

I think this studio-version from 1965. There are two another Bernstein's live-version of Mahler's 9th Symphony, Berlin 1979 and Amsterdam 1986. First movement speeds up to 27 min. in Berlin, 29 min. in Amsterdam and on this studio-recording with NY Philharmonic takes 28 min.

[Sinfoniette]

Its the Sony rec. There is a DG recording and the Tanglewood. The Tanglewood is the hardest to get because it is not commercially supported. However, many critics say it is the greatest - it has everything that the DG or Sony doesn't have! Except sound quality, that is

[jbguadaplayer]

Thanks for posting.I think really `Lenny` is the right guy for this kind of music. His feeling for the pain is just the right. Karajans recording is also great.

[mossfitz]

I heard an interview with a member of the Berlin Philharmonic, who felt that with Mahler´s 9th Bernstein had brought them to their highest attainment ever - for which reason Karajan NEVER allowed him to conduct them again. K. was a nazi and generally unpleasant human being. I don´t get the cult of his supposedly `objective´ interpretations - they leave me cold.

[Sinfoniette]

Quite an amazing story; Lenny must have been the man in that one. Mahler interpretations differ so much from one conductor to another; Lenny's sound as if Lenny wrote it, Karajan-R. Strauss, Solti-Beethoven, and etc, etc. Its easy to see why people's preferences differ so much.

[phantsmogo]

@Sinfoniette Why do you feel it appropriate to call him Lenny? I feel that's disrespectful, like a passanger in your car turning down the volume at the climax of a Wagner piece because it's "too loud."......

[jbguadaplayer]

I don't buy the argument that being an unpleasant person prevents you from being a good musician. It is just a regrettable fact.

[mossfitz]

I wasn´t directly arguing that - though i can see the implication was there. As i say, Karajan always left me somewhat cold so that when i heard that interview and found out more about him i must admit to an Aha... ach so...Mmmmm... perhaps... effect..

While on the subject, i find that while Wagner has written some of the most exhilerating music in existence, the operas as a whole are highly questionable and plump. I side with Nietzsche on that particular dickhead too.

[dxhaloxc]

hahaha unpleasant experiences are often what make people great musicians.

[eutuve]

That argument is not for sale.

One can be a genius in any field and an unpleasant, or worse, person .

Many criminal Nazi "Dirigenten" were music lovers.

Michael Jackson is hailed as the most talented performer of all times ( stupid assumption in my opinion ). Unpleasant person ? She was the scum of the Earth ( again, IMO )

[Sprookjesverteller]

@jbguadaplayer Well put

[billyguns2]

Jascha Horenstein and Bruno Walter are supreme in this music; surprisingly, Bernard Haitink left us a great recording of it too.

[Sinfoniette]

There are a lot of Mahler 9 recordings. There was the Ancerl, the celebrated Karajan, Klemperer and many, many others. 3 months after uploading this, I still have a hard time understanding and enjoying this. Its like the Eroica symphony for me, only that its written by Mahler. I don't like the Eroica, but everybody I know adores it, similarly with the Mahler 9th.

[billyguns2]

Have you heard the Horenstein or Walter recordings? I think they make the best case for this composition. As for me, I think Mahler's greatest moments are the Finales of the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th Symphonies, the entire Fourth Symphony, the slow movements of the 5th and 6th Symphonies, and Das Lied von der Erde; these are all great to an otherworldly degree. I would add Dmitri Mitropoulos to the small list of truly great Mahler conductors; not Karajan, Reiner, or Szell, and I love them.

[billyguns2]

I know what you mean about the "Eroica;" I respect it, but I don't love it. I LOVE the "Pastorale;" I think there is not one wasted note in that sublime creation, Beethoven at his absolute best. I prefer the gentle side of Beethoven to the heaven stormer; I love his 4th Piano Concerto, Piano Sonata No. 30, and Violin Concerto to name three favorites.

[Sinfoniette]

I need to listen to the violin concerto sometime. I'll probably like it, but for now, my favorite is the Triple Concerto, Pastorale, and the 5th Piano Concerto.

[ibizaking]

@billyguns2

why are you surprised by Haitink?

he's one of the most honost conducters alive. He will do the 9th again this spring, april in Chicago, may in Amsterdam.

[mahlerite]

Is this the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, or Vienna Philharmonic? chrisalex1989 also wants to know.

I uploaded the recording Bernstein did with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra if you're interested.

Lenny conducted many of the finest orchestras in the world for this piece!

Thanks for the upload :)

[Sinfoniette]

Ah. This is the New York Philharmonic. I listened to the recording you have uploaded; it is a great recording. Have you heard Lenny's rendition of the 4'th? He really is passionate on that...and the 6th I posted (the Tragic) seems to be a little more hysteric-tragic.

[chrisalex1989]

Me gustaría saber cuál de las perfomances de Bernstein es esta y con qué orquesta.

V.