It's really cool that so many orchestras have their own labels, bypassing the really stupid business decisions of the idiots who run the record labels. This seems to be almost the only way we can get to hear some of the great American orchestras, many of which are playing at peak musicianship with music directors who match them very well.
I haven't heard MTT's recording -- the bulk of that SFS series is priced way higher than I thought it ought to be; I bought the 4th only because I found it at Borders, and had a 40% off coupon with me at the time. Nor have I heard Gergiev, although I give high marks to the Berlioz series conducted by Sir Colin Davis on this orchestra's own label.
However, as it happens, I did a comparative listen to Eschenbach/Philly (on Ondine, with which label the conductor has a contract) and Haitink/CSO a few weeks ago. Eschenbach was granitic but Haitink's seemed much more propulsive and probing and really involved, if you get my meaning. Mahler's piano quartet movement is an interesting novelty (sounding to
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Actually, this is what Borders has in its bins at the moments. and I have some 30% coupons (save as web page, print out as many as you want, and make repeat visits--which is easy for me,because it's directly across the street from where I work). Yesterday I bought MTT's Klagende Lied--figured there's not too many recordings of those. But for the rest, there's an embarrassment of riches. I also noticed the First Symphony by Gergiev/LSO in the new recordings bin (this store maintains one, but not all Borders do). I intend to use more coupons tomorrow for some LSO Berlioz, but at least one is set aside for the Mahler. (The coupon expires Wednesday.)
I haven't heard the Gergiev or Eschenbach recordings here, though I've heard Eschenbach do the Sixth live, and it was fantastic.
I can say with certainty, though, that the MTT/San Francisco recording is excellent. I like the tempos, the orchestral balance, and the interpretation. I own entirely too many recordings of this symphony, and that one is one of my favorites.
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I haven't heard MTT's recording -- the bulk of that SFS series is priced way higher than I thought it ought to be; I bought the 4th only because I found it at Borders, and had a 40% off coupon with me at the time. Nor have I heard Gergiev, although I give high marks to the Berlioz series conducted by Sir Colin Davis on this orchestra's own label.
However, as it happens, I did a comparative listen to Eschenbach/Philly (on Ondine, with which label the conductor has a contract) and Haitink/CSO a few weeks ago. Eschenbach was granitic but Haitink's seemed much more propulsive and probing and really involved, if you get my meaning. Mahler's piano quartet movement is an interesting novelty (sounding to ( ... )
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I also noticed the First Symphony by Gergiev/LSO in the new recordings bin (this store maintains one, but not all Borders do). I intend to use more coupons tomorrow for some LSO Berlioz, but at least one is set aside for the Mahler. (The coupon expires Wednesday.)
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I can say with certainty, though, that the MTT/San Francisco recording is excellent. I like the tempos, the orchestral balance, and the interpretation. I own entirely too many recordings of this symphony, and that one is one of my favorites.
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