Bernstein: Mahler – The Complete Symphonies & Orchestral Songs (16 CD box set, APE)

Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 16 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 3.79 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

Disc: 01
01. 1. Langsam. Schleppend. Wie ein Naturlaut – Im Anfang sehr gemächlich
02. 2. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell – Trio. Recht gemächlich
03. 3. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
04. 4. Stürmisch bewegt
05. 1. Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht
06. 2. Ging heut’ morgen übers Feld
07. 3. Ich hab’ ein glühend Messer
08. 4. Die zwei blauen Augen

Disc: 02
01. Part 1. 1. Kräftig. Entschieden
02. Part 2. 2. Tempo di Menuetto. Sehr Mäßig
03. Part 2. 3. Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast

Disc: 03
01. Part 2. 4. Sehr Langsam. Misteriosos. Durchaus ppp “O Mensch! Gib acht!”
02. Part 2. 5. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck “Es sungen drei Engel einen süßen Gesang”
03. Part 2. 6. Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden
04. 1. Allegro maestoso [Totenfeier]

Disc: 04
01. 2. Andante moderato
02. 3. [Scherzo]. In ruhig fließender Bewegung – attacca:
03. 4. “Urlicht”. Sehr feierlich, aber schlicht “O Röschen rot!”
04. 5. Im Tempo des Scherzo. Wild herausfahrend

Disc: 05
01. 1. Bedächtig. Nicht eilen
02. 2. In gemächlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast
03. 3. Ruhevoll
04. 4. Sehr behaglich “Wir genießen die himmlischen Freuden”

Disc: 06
01. 1. Der Schildwache Nachtlied
02. 2. Wer hat dies liedlein erdacht?
03. 3. Der Tamboursg’sell
04. 4. Das irdische Leben
05. 5. Verlorne Müh’
06. 6. Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt
07. 7. Revelge
08. 8. Rheinlegendchen
09. 9. Lob des hohen Verstandes
10. 10. Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen
11. 11. Lied des Verfolgten im Turm
12. 12. Trost im Unglück
13. 13. Urlicht

Disc: 07
01. Part 1. 1. Trauermarsch. In gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt
02. Part 1. 2. Strümisch bewegt. Mit größter Vehemenz
03. Part 2. 3. Scherzo. Kräftig, nicht zu schnell
04. Part 3. 4. Adagietto. Sehr langsam
05. Part 3. 5. Rondo-Finale. Allegro – Allegro giocoso. Frisch

Disc: 08
01. 1. Allegro energico, ma non troppo. Heftig, aber markig
02. 2. Scherzo. Wuchtig
03. 3. Andante moderato

Disc: 09
01. 4. Finale. Allegro moderato – Allegro energico
02. 1. Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgehn
03. 2. Nun seh’ ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
04. 3. Wenn dein Mütterlein
05. 4. Oft denk’ ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen
06. 5. In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus

Disc: 10
01. 1. Langsam (Adagio) – Allegro risoluto, ma non troppo
02. 2. Nachtmusik. Allegro moderato
03. 3. Scherzo. Schattenhaft
04. 4. Nachtmusik. Andante amoroso

Disc: 11
01. 5. Rondo-Finale. Tempo 1 (Allegro ordinario)
02. 1. Liebst du um Schönheit
03. 2. Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder
04. 3. Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft
05. 4. Um Mitternacht
06. 5. Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

Disc: 12
01. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: Allegro impetuoso “Veni, creator spirtus”
02. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: A tempo. Etwas (aber unmerklich) gemäßiget; immer sehr fließend “I
03. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: Tempo 1. (Allegro impetuoso) “Infirma nostri corporis”
04. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: Tempo. 1 (Allegro, etwas hastig)
05. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: Sehr fließend – Noch einmal so langsam als vorher. Nicht schleppen
06. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: Plötzlich sehr breit und leidenschaftlichen Ausdrucks – Mit plötzl
07. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: “Veni, creator spiritus”
08. Hymnus “Veni, creator spiritus”: a tempo “Gloria sit Patri Domino”

Disc: 13
01. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Poco adagio
02. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Più mosso. (Allegro moderato)
03. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Wieder langsam. “Waldung, sie schwankt heran”
04. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Moderato. “Ewiger Wonnebrand”
05. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Allegro – (Allegro appassionato) “Wie Felsenabgrund mir
06. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Allegro deciso. (Im Anfang noch nicht eilen) “Gerettet
07. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Molto leggiero. “Jene Rosen aus den Händen”
08. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Schon etwas langsamer und immer noch mäßiger “Uns bleib
09. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Im Anfang (die ersten vier Takte) noch etwas gehalten ”
10. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Sempre l’istesso tempo “Höchste Herrscherin der Welt”
11. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: “Äußerst langsam. Adagissimo “Dir, der Unberührbaren” ”
12. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Fließend “Bei der liebe, die den Füßen” “Bei dem Bronn,
13. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: “Neige, neige, du Ohnegleiche”
14. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Unmerklich frischer “Er überwächst uns schon” “Vom edle
15. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Sehr langsam. “Komm! hebe dich zu höhern Sphären”
16. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Hymnenartig (Ungefähr im selben Zeitmaß weiter) “Blicke
17. Finale Scene from Goethe’s “Faust”, Part 2: Sehr langsam beginnend “Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein

Disc: 14
01. 1. Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde
02. 2. Der Einsame im Herbst
03. 3. Von der Jugend
04. 4. Von der Schönheit
05. 5. Der Trunkene im Frühling
06. 6. Der Abschied

Disc: 15
01. 1. Andante comodo
02. 2. Im Tempo eines gemächlichen Ländlers. Etwas täppisch und sehr derb

Disc: 16
01. 3. Rondo-Burleske. Allegro assai Sehr trotzig
02. 4. Adagio.Sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend

# Symphony No. 1 in D major (“Titan”)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, song cycle for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
with Thomas Hampson
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 3 in D minor
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by New York Philharmonic
with Christa Ludwig, Joseph Alessi, Philip Smith, Glenn Dicterow
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 2 in C minor (“Resurrection”)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by New York Philharmonic
with Christa Ludwig, Barbara Hendricks
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 4 in G major
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
with Jaap van Zweden, Helmut Wittek
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Des Knaben Wunderhorn, songs (12) for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
with Andreas Schmidt, Lucia Popp
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 6 in A minor (“Tragic”)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Kindertotenlieder, song cycle for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
with Thomas Hampson
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 7 in E minor (“Song of the Night”)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Rückert Lieder, song collection for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
with Thomas Hampson
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor (incomplete)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 8 in E flat major (“Symphony of a Thousand”)
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
with Rudolf Scholz, Trudeliese Schmidt, Judith Blegen, Gerti Zeumer, Hermann Prey, Jose Van Dam, Margaret Price, Agnes Baltsa, Kenneth Riegel
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Das Lied von der Erde, for alto (or baritone), tenor & orchestra
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
with James King, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

# Symphony No. 9 in D major
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

A Highly Definitive & Satisfying Set

I ordered this CD set from Amazon.com in early January of 2001. I wanted to listen though the set a few times before I jumped into writing a review. I wanted to give each performance time to settle in my mind and give each one more than one listening. Going through the complete Mahler symphonies and orchestral songs is quite an investment of time. One is looking at close to 18 hours of music. Word to the wise: Don’t go through the complete cycle in one sitting!!
With that said, I must say this is an incredible compilation of recordings. All recorded digitally (with a minor exception), DG has remastered these recordings and they are impeccable as far as sound goes. I wanted to begin with the sound quality so that any sound-wary listeners would instantly know that they are of impeccable quality.
The performances overall are incredible. On a scale of 1 – 10, the following are my reviews of the symphonies:
Symphony No. 1 — 10 Stars (a more fiery performance would be hard to find)
Symphony No. 2 — 9 Stars (a fantastic performance by the orchestra, chorus, and soloist; however, some tempo choices were a bit disturbing)
Symphony No. 3 — 10 Stars (the definitive Mahler 3, huge dynamics, incredibly built climaxes, and a spirited finale)
Symphony No. 4 — 9 Stars Symphony No. 5 — 10 Stars (this was one Lenny owned) Symphony No. 6 — 9 Stars (Sir John Barbirolli’s EMI recording is the tops on this symphony, but Bernstein’s is very close)
Symphony No. 7 — 9 Stars (one of the more difficult Mahler symphonies to understand and follow, but a great performance with well judged tempi)
Symphony No. 8 — 9 Stars (George Solti’s Decca recording is hard to beat and therefore, 10 Stars is saved for that recording)
Symphony No. 9 — 10 Stars (Such an incredible symphony that really is the pinnacle and defining symphony of Mahler. Here Bernstein almost has you feeling that Mahler is conducting the symphony himself)
Symphony No. 10 — 9 Stars (great performance, but the symphony is not one of my faves)
The orchestral songs are great as well. With a great cast of incredible singers, Mahler’s song cycles are also well represented in this box set. Although this box set is quite an investment, it is well worth it to Mahler and Bernstein fans. They are great insights into one of the 20th century’s greatest composers. Not only are they that, but the performances will move you if you listen — guaranteed.