Repertoire: The BEST Mahler Fifth Symphony 

I was delighted and moved to see that you chose Levine as your top recommendation. That was how I first discovered the work years ago, thanks to one of my friends who was a great fan of the recording and Mahler in general. Sadly, he passed away last year--so this brings back some bittersweet memories. I haven't heard Levine's recording in a long time and am eager to give it a fresh listen. Thank you.

Very glad you included Abbado/CSO, as that was my first recording and the vehicle by which I learned the work. I still think it's one of the best, and it's good to know that..it's not just me. I once heard his later recording and was soooooo delighted that I didn't spend my hard earned money on it.

Per your recommendation I found the Barshai and Junge Deutsche Orchestra. OMG. What an inspired performance! The clarity of the lines and the interplay between the horns, woodwinds and strings. The recording sparkles. And the pacing seems just right. WONDERFUL! I feel they are all pouring out their hearts and souls. The applause at the end is so well deserved! THANK YOU-

My timpani teacher at Juilliard taught me that the 2nd movement of Mahler 5 is a timpani concerto! This piece is a major blow for everyone involved!

Thanks for highlighting Mehta. great recording We were fortunate to hear him do a memorable performance of this before the recording live in St. Louis when the N Y Phil visited on the Bell Labs/AT&T Great Orchestra touring series. (in a time when corporate America's philanthropy extended to the arts rather than only to Wall Street).

So glad I found your channel, and this video! Great respect to any and all musicians, especially those who can absorb and play such music. I discovered Mahler's 5th in 1982 and it remains the symphony I love above all others

I really enjoy your talk. As there are so many recordings of Mahler 5th to choose from, I didn't know which one to choose. I'm glad you mentioned Karajan's recording. This is the one I used to own and listen to very often when I was a college student.

I have that Barshai recording.... LOVE IT.

I am working my way through Mahler and I use your recommendations as the foundation stones of my consideration. I bought your recommendation of Marcus Stenz from the MSO as that is my local orchestra and I was pleased to see you give it a nod. I love it! It is fabulously played and the sonics are great. I since saw them play the 3rd and that was fabulous too. I hope it's released a recording. Thanks for the tip!

Glad you mentioned the Stenz in Melbourne. It is by far my favorite.

THANK YOU David!!! I knew 20+ version.... not Levine's. Totally amazing. And VERY well recorded. Perfection, really.

I saw Solti and his Chicago play the Mahler 5th years ago (1971) at Dartmouth College. Yes, the little College had two separate nights of Chicago. Both different programs. Anyway, the Mahler was stunning. Yes, I know many can not stomach Solti's recorded version with Chicago. But for me, that live extravaganza and Solti's first recorded performance reside always in my heart. (I have the first version in both LP and cd. Purchased that LP the day after the Hanover concert. I could not wait to hear it again.)

I was lucky to have heard Solti and CSO do the 5th in SF. It was the most exciting classical concert I've ever heard. The audience gasped at the pluck string at the end of the first movement. Sounded like they would blow the roof right off the opera house. The audience stood in unison and cheered! I've never heard any orchestra sound like that and doubt I ever will again. I also very much like Sinopoli's recording.

One of my most memorable concert experience was the Vienna Philharmonic in Budapest with Blomstedt I think. They played the Mahler 5th. That was the first time I've heard them and I was completely blown away with that beautiful, rich, colorful, truly symphonic orchestral sound. It was a unforgettable performance. After that I've heard them in Vienna with Barenboim playing Maher 9th. That performance was routine and the orchestral sound was dull.

Tennstedt on EMI released 1979, 2011 remaster sounds wonderful also.

Hi David, I am new to your channel and I am listening (on RU-vid) to your suggested Hans Rosbaud Mahler 5th and it is INCREDIBLE! For a 1951 recording, the sound engineers capture a sonic masterpiece. This orchestra plays with confidence, ambition, and apparent joy. Thanks for your dedicated hard work to recommend this rendition.

David, it's so great to see you. I just got the Levine Mahler box on your recommendation, especially of 5. I have to say I agree 100% with you and absolutely love Kaderabek's opening solo. Such character and balls! The entire recording blows away everything I've ever heard on record and you know I've heard a few! Levine gets on with it and it really does make a difference. I think many conductors get caught up in the textural and emotional complexity of Mahler's music and forget about the inner rhythmic drive necessary to give his music it's due. Bravo, my friend.

Oh, glad I found this one - just starting to devour Mahler, and of course I started with Bernstein - thanks to this, I found/purchased the Stands/Melbourne AND the Levine/Philly versions. Can't wait to hear both. Much obliged - I learn something from every video.

Rosbaud is one of my favorite conductors particularly for Mahler's Fifth Symphony. Thank you for sharing.

that mehta new york recording is awesome. such textbook brass playing and wonderful trumpet moments from the whole section, particularly from the principal trumpet phil smith. definitely my favorite mahler 5 and probably my favorite mahler recording ever.

Back in the 1970s, I had season tickets for the L.A. Philharmonic during Mehta’s conductorship. His Mahler 5 was one of his most memorable concerts. I have never heard a recording where the contrapuntal lines were so finely delineated.

Great recommendations! Others I'd like to add are the later Inbal on Exton, from 2013 in Tokyo, and the live Kubelik on Audite, from Munich in 1981. There are many more I like or find fascinating for different reasons, such as the 1958 Schwarz on Everest, but the above two are among my handful favorites.

Levine was the first I listened to - it was in my university’s CD colllection - and keep coming back to it. The Adagietto is stunning, I’m not sure I’ve heard better string playing in any piece. I still haven’t found a better version and perhaps never will.

Thanks for another fine essay. My mother bought the LPs of Karajan’s 5 for the Kindertötenlieder, which she had studied back in the day, but the coupling could not have been better; when I was a young thing I transferred it to cassette so as not to wear out the vinyls. Later I bought the Barbirolli as well, mainly as those Grammophone reviewers you often disagree with raved about Sir John B, but it is a good recording too. Stenz did a complete cycle of the symphonies here in Melbourne (a few of which were recorded, obviously, and one of which - the Eighth - I performed in, as one of the supernumeraries of the massed choirs) but I think he treated them as a learning experience for the cycle he got to do later; maybe he was taking things too easy at Köln, that he thought he had solved all of his problems and didn’t have to apply the same effort? I have to say, having looked up that Scherchen on RU-vid - it is an utter DOG! An unbelievably shameful disgrace, but quite funny to listen in a perverse way (yes, party album time) and it made me think of this rather unfortunate Pavlovian response to the opening four notes of Mahler 5 from a trumpet player’s dogs! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oq1JShEmLsk.html

Karajan Mahler 5 is a favourite of mine. Great sound & structure.

@David Hurwitz so happy to see you got the Karajan because for me he and those gorgeous Bpo strings created the most sublime, heavenly, soul stirring time stands still adaggietto. i wanna check out the mehta because i got his 2nd with the vpo and its superb and also dig the barbirolli who for all of his expansiveness makes one of the swiftest adaggietto's that still retains its sublime beauty.

I'm glad you started with Rosbaud. I had only just recently discovered his recording after hearing him mentioned in passing in other reviews. I'd include the Tennstedt live recording with London PO (what tragic energy!). The Inbal/Frankfurt recording is worth checking out. Tempi are slow and the mood is expansive, but the performance is persuasive and the sound opulent. No surprises with Chicago, though the early Solti is very worthy. I never heard the Abbado, but will check it out (I like his Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique with Chicago better than Solti's)! Funny, the first one in my collection (pre-CD 80's) was a taped copy I made of a library LP of Abravanel/Utah. I remember being especially pleased that it managed to fit onto a single 60 minute cassette!

Some years ago, on a whim, I bought the Kondrashin 5th on the "Audiophile Classics" (pirate?) label for $2.99 or $3.99 or thereabouts. I enjoyed it--except for the last movement, where the entire orchestra went all-out crazy. It all seemed so over-the-top to me that what immediately came to mind was not Mahler but "circus music." Once I had that notion in my head, I couldn't get it out of my head, and so I sold the disc, at a small profit, on eBay. How clever was I? Well, naturally, in due course I came to suffer from seller's regret. Even today, whenever anyone mentions that recording, I kick myself for having gotten rid of it so cavalierly So thanks for reminding me of it, Dave! ;-) (The Kondrashin recording is posted on RU-vid, so I just gave it another listen. Yep, the final movement still sounds like "circus music." But now I really get a kick out of that weird wildness. After all, who needs Haitinkian politeness and restraint all the time?)

I can't imagine having the time in this one life to get beyond the version that blew my mind. That is, the very first. Kubelik.

I heard Solti conduct this live in Bass Hall, Austin, TX back in 1986, I think. Herseth didn't have his best night...the opening trumpet tune didn't come off too well. The rest was OK, but the REAL gem of the evening was the Haydn Drumroll Symphony. Side note...the concert was delayed for almost two hours, as the instrument truck was involved in a highway accident en route. Many instruments were damaged and some string players resorted to borrowed instruments from the U. of Texas. With that in mind, I suppose the Mahler 5 went pretty well. I know as a performer that something like that can really put the players off their best game.

Thanks Dave for another entertaining and illuminating talk. I haven't heard the Mehta or the Levine (do we even talk about Jimmy's records now?) but otherwise my favourites are very much the same as yours: Bernstein/Vienna, Karajan and Barbirolli, and also the lesser known Barshai and Stenz recordings. The one thing that for me is essential in Mahler 5 is to get right the passage at Fig. 18 near the end of the first movement. This is marked Klagend and the whole orchestra is fff (except the percussion - and the second and third trombone, I wonder why?) with horns and trumpets also playing bells up. This is a terrifying moment and the effect should be absolutely shattering. Too many performances just let it pass. One that doesn't is the Abbado/Berlin recording. I get what you say about Abbado getting fussy in his later years but I do think his Mahler 5 is the real deal.

Many Fifth's I've listened to, and for me the best are James Conlon with the Gürzenich Orchestra, very well executed and clear sound, and Klaus Tennstedt with The London Philharmonic Orchestra, in a live recording from 1988. Very exciting execution, especially in the last movement.

I had a recording of this by Andrew Litton w/ the Dallas Symphony. I recall liking it a lot, though I also recall I had to crank the volume all the way up to actually *hear* it ...

Thanks a lot David for all that great info on the Mahler 5th!!! I agree with all of your findings on it. From a personal viewpoint I have always liked the first on with CSO/Solti. It is so exciting to hear an orchestra play with this power and control. Since I play trombone I guess that makes sense to me. Anyway I wanted to know if you have heard Mahler 5 done on Conifer with Daniele Gatti and the Royal Philharmonic Orch. It was released in the late 90s. I think you would really like it and I would like to send you a recording of it if you want it. He delves deep into the score. The playing is exciting also. Thanks again and I'll be watching!!!!

Glad the Kondrashin got a mention . It was on a cheaper branch of EMI (Greensleves) and the only one within my budget as a teenager. Proved to be a great intro to the piece. Overlooked completely by the Penguin Record Guide and others.

I was lucky enough to hear George Manahan play this piece like fireworks! Most reviewers scorn Karajan's 5th, but it has some telling moments. For instance, when the Adagietto theme recurs in the finale, Karajan is almost the only one to note the "grazioso" direction, and the strings shape it that way. An essential recording.

Of my four or five recordings of this, my favorite by far is Wyn Morris and the Symphonica of London. Morris was (is?) a rather celebrated Mahlerian, I understand, and this recording came highly recommended to me. Wonderful sound, excellent pacing, totally committed reading, captures all the syncopations and "confusions" in the score but also captures all the emotional depth, great biting trumpets, great horns too, wonderful crescendos and diminuendos in the strings, adagietto well-paced not glacial, and an exceptional scherzo.

I saw Solti in Chicago playing 5 and it was edge of your seat exciting. My first was Mehta w LA on LPs. Love at first hearing.

Glad to hear very favorable view of the Karajan. Heard some critics put it down. Can't figure that out. Any reason Mahler shouldn't sound "too beautiful"? I've always loved it. The strings are incredibly gorgeous & emotional throughout, the BPO is amazing all round. I think Karajan's opening funeral march packs the biggest punch of the ones I've heard. Have to check out the Stenz, since this is one of my fave all time pieces in all of music.

I'd like to put in a shout out to the Bertini/Cologne Radio Sym. 5th. He keeps things fresh and moving along which is how my taste runs in this symphony.

I'm glad you mentioned Karajan's recording. He's not usually my go-to guy for Mahler, but in this case it comes together wonderfully. I think the reason is that he somehow brings out the Bohemian character of the music, which is something I demand from any Mahler performance. "Sleekly proficient" is not good enough, and Mahler never wrote a "concerto for orchestra"! BTW, I've read that Mahler kept tweaking the orchestration of the 5th and was never completely satisfied with it, so I guess maybe a part of the problem is with the score rather than the musicians.

David, tonight I heard a performance by the National Youth Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Harding at Carnegie Hall. I don’t know when it was recorded. Their ages were 16-19. I have some quibbles with it, sonics and such. but I was impressed. They played their hearts out. It was more of a lyrical than a, what’s the word, crisp (?) performance. But it didn’t lack for dynamics and drive. I enjoyed it. I mean kids did that!

Karajan's was my introduction to the Fifth - actually my introduction to Mahler (the 2 LP set coupled with Ludwig's Kindertotenlieder borrowed from a library). What an introduction! However Sinopoli with the Philharmonia on DG is my first choice - wonderful interpretation leading to a thrilling climax in the final movement.

Karajan’s success in this symphony is fascinating (or, at least, for me 😂). I would have thought that his sound would be so against Mahler’s desired sound, (which can be so “folky”, and woodwinds play such a part). But Karajan’s works so well in this symphony! The second mvt is where I can notice that emphasis on strings and brass the most, and wow is it great to hear! Mahler and Karajan uniting well musically 💯

Hard to find and not the best sound but Paray's live Detroit recording on Tahara is a one I like to hear. Barshai, Bernstein II, Karajan and Levine are my normal go to recordings. I will have to check out that Stenz though now.

As always Dave, your video prompted me to listen to my recordings again. I was really happy to hear Mahler 5 with Jukka-Pekka Saraste with the Finnish RSO on Virgin Classics. I feel that he keeps everything moving forward but yet he really gives each movement great character. I especially like how he does not get bogged down in the Adagietto and this helps it flow seamlessly to the finale that is so joyously played. Have you listened to this recording recently? I would appreciate your input. Could this one be another sleeper?

David, your mention of the rough trumpet start for Berlin/Abbado at Carnegie reminded me of an audio cassette I have buried somewhere of a MN Orch live concert radio broadcast of the Mahler 5th. When the trumpeter played the initial C# triplet (which on a "C" trumpet is played with all three valves pressed down) and then lifted the 3rd valve in order to play the E♮ which followed, the valve stuck halfway up. What came out was a muffled, choking sound. He was forced to stop. You could hear him work that valve a few times, and begin again. The performance went ahead fine, but as a trumpet player, hearing that evoked sympathy and terror!

Great video as always! Dave, when you talk about a conductor’s first or second recording of a piece (with the same orchestra), if you gave the date of each, that’d be really helpful in searching out the one you recommend. (Obviously when the recordings are with different orchestras, that makes it easy.)

Played it on viola a few years ago... there are notes all over the place, huge leaps, and lots of string crossings in the 3rd movement, which is definitely the hardest. In the Rondo, we ended up faking the broken-thirds run at the end... played it as doubled quarter note scales, divisi in thirds

For me one of the curious things about hearing so many recordings of the Mahler Fifth is how the Adagietto movement seems almost like a separate work inserted into the body of another. This may be due in part to how often the movement is presented separately, but the one recording where it does sound like a natural, integral part of a larger work is Karajan. And what I am saying here with regard to the Adagietto also goes for all the other movements: I am not a trained musician, but by my ears alone no other recording presents each movement of this symphony as organically connected to the others as does Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. It is easily the most singular sounding recording I have ever heard.

Rosbaud is my favorite! I'm glad you talked about Scherchen after your other Scherchen video because those two live recordings are perhaps the most lunatic recordings of any Mahler. One dark horse recording I like is Suitner with Staatskapelle Berlin, though I don't like the engineering as much as the interpretive choices.

Have you got any thoughts on Simon Rattle's performance?

As a side note, David, you say above that ALL the Marcus Stenz Oehms Mahler cycle is no good but you give Sym 4 a 10/10 on your website. Have you had second thoughts with this recording? Have I bought a turkey recommended by you?

Hi! David, I am so glad you brought up Kondrashin, I also gave him for his Mahler 9 especially the last movement, it just teared me apart heartbrokenly. I was wondering if you had the chance listened to Sinopoli and Dudamel, I like them both, and since you have such broad knowledge about conductors and symphonies, do you think you can make a series talk a about conductors and theirs recording those from post-war to the 80's (Furtwangler, Celibidache, Wand, Neuman, Mravinsky.......). Thanks much!

I like the first Solti, and went and heard him do the Mahler 5 in Chicago for the 2nd go around. It was so loud at times I had to cover my ears, but otherwise I found myself completely unengaged. I went to hear the performance again, thinking that maybe I was just in the wrong mood, but still I found myself unmoved. I was happily surprised to see you mention the Barenboim recording. I like the Barenboim CSO Mahler 5, but kept that to myself, fearing embarrassment. Who knew!

Is the Bernstein/Vienna 2nd recording you mention and are fond of from one of his cycles?

Chailly 5th has to be one of my favorites for sure!

Does anybody know the Honeck recording? Is it good? Or maybe even great?

Totally agree with Bernstein's Vienna recording, really unbeatable. I prefer it to Karajan's version, but that's personal, of course. Now: the Bruno Walter recording with NYP you refer to is the 1947 one? Or is there a later one? Thanks.

Among many others, have the Karajan on blu-Ray.

I'm almost certain that Solti's Chicago Mahler 5th was his first recording with the orchestra. It was also one of the first (if not the first) recordings the orchestra made at the Krannert Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. I used to have the Karajan on LP, but I do have the Mehta and Barenboim recordings you mentioned. Go figure. That's what moving does to record collections.

Barbirolli's recording always impresses me.

Tennstedt's live recording on EMI with the London symphony orchestra is my favorite. As you've said many times before, Tennstedt is best live and this is no exception.

I'm curious about the Mehta recommendation. Years ago I heard his version with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. I remember thinking it was fantastic. I just did a quick drop the needle excersice and listened to spots from both Mehta recordings (LAPO and NY) on RU-vid and it seems clear the Los Angeles recording is superior..... Thoughts?

What do you think of the new kid's M5 Payare, director of Montreal? I really like the samples I've heard and am thinking of purchasing it. Or Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Semyon Bychkov (I just heard a sample of the opening to the Rondo and thought it really slow and weird- it should be like crisp dawn with birds chirping and critters running about- that's what I like anyway). Previously you praised Chailly's Mahler symphony cycle, but don't mention him here. Not so great for you? I have his 5 with Concertgebouw and always really liked it. Thanks for your inexhaustible energy. Buried under a mountain of classical music recordings and having to describe them. What a feat!

I love Chailly and Boulez, but yeah...I don't usually walk out of performances, but I have walked out of Mahler 5 performences twice! Good to know about the Mehta, I don't know it.

I just got a copy of the Stenz record and that's some fantastic Mahler conducting! Stenz reminds me of Bernstein's Vienna Philharmonic account in that both Stenz and Bernstein make the score more gripping and intense as it goes. It keeps getting better as the music progresses, each movement better than the last. I also like Barshai for his formally balanced presentation, the other four movements centered on and organized around the scherzo with such clarity. I think Ozawa and the Boston Symphony are first rate in the first three movements, but in the Adagietto and Finale they lapse in intensity and can't deliver on the promise they made. Do you agree?

I found Levine's 5th under RCA with 2 different covers: face and sun vs hill silhouette. Any difference?

Solti used to do a short Mozart symphony as a lead-in to the Mahler Fifth. The Mozart was more like the first quarter rather than the first half of the concert. It served to warm up the orchestra so they didn't start the Fifth cold. The Mozart didn't need much rehearsal, so they could concentrate on the Mahler. That was a good solution, I think ("secondo me" as we say in Italian).

What do you think about Abbado's performance of Fifth in Lucerne, the one on RU-vid? I was wondering if that's the performance you would consider good, because that's the one that 'get' me to Mahler 5. Thanks.

Not my favorite, but I do agree that the Levin/Mahler 5 is worth having...had it on LP & disc. I even have the Harold Farberman/LSO/Mahler 1&5....the LSO sounds great, and that's all I will say about that😁

I love the qualities of the Walter rendition. As to the Barshai I confess I'm not as enthusiastic as I thought I would be. The 1st movement is fabulous but I always get the sense that the rest just doesn't shake me, I find the result less enlivened than the 1st movement suggests. I wonder what you think of one that has my affection, the Kubelik DG (part of my favorite cycle, by the way). It's a shame that the recording is somewhat muffled, especially the percussion, because I find it full of musicality and sincere. Also never overwrought. Kudos for another video with many suggestions I will check out (gotta hear that Rosbaud, and Kondrashin, whose live Amsterdam 7th is a jewel of a disc!).

I think Antoni Wit and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra on Naxos put together a fine performance. But I agree that Von Karajan is at the top!

Interesting coming to this video after I just played the 5th with Stenz this past weekend. He was wonderful, into big gestures and not weighed gown by detail. But I’m scarred by his tempo in the Finale!

Dave, re: the Abbado, CSO "1st" recording... 2 recordings in 1981? January and October? You mean the January record? Didn't know if they're the same with different album art. I ask to clarify because Apple Music has the October album but not January. I'm a trumpet player so naturally a collector of Mahler 5's... I have Bernstein, the Barenboim you reference, the Mehta, and 2 diff Solti recordings. I've been meaning to get Abbado forever! I love his work with CSO - especially his Mahler 7 in '84 and Tchaikovsky 4 in '88. Thanks for clarifying. If the 2 are completely different, do you have and opinion on the October recording?

Barbirolli usually conducted Mahler 5 and 6 with much faster tempi than in his studio recordings of these pieces. His interpretations of these in live performances can be heard on mono recordings with Houston and BPO. I still love the Mahler 5 by Barbirolli/NPO because of romanticism and plenty of portamento in the 4th movement adagietto that is comparable to the Mengerberg/ACO recording.

Great discussion; no argument on your recommendations ; we have (deep breath here) Bernstein/NYPO,Bernstein/VPO, Barbirolli/NPO, Abbado/BPO, Abbado/CSO, Karajan/BPO, Levine/Philadelphia, Chailly/RCO, Bernini/ Cologne, Solti/CSO I, Gatti/RPO, and Neumann/Leipzig GO. Overall my favorite is Levine, but Karajan is truly stunning and a pleasant surprise from this conductor. I find Barbirolli a little underwhelming. I rather like Gatti and Chailly any thoughts on those? Bernstein/NYPO sounds like an off day for everyone involved.As you probably know, the Abbado/BPO was highly praised in Gramophone but is mostly blah. Neumann is decent but not great.

I believe I was at that concert many years ago when the trumpet player just completely messed up the opening of the 1st movement. I was in the dress circle. Yess, it was a young Abbado a long time ...Must have been over 40 years ago. But my favorite Mahler 5 is the Sinopoli with Philharmonia Orch. I think its great!

I agree with all of your choices. I am surprised, however, that the Gielen wasn’t mentioned. I find that to be one of the best “modernist” Mahler 5 interpretations out there

See if you can finagle that live recording from Slatkin in St. Louis. Sumptuous strings, gorgeous brass, active percussion, and a tam-tam blast in the second movement that may still be reverberating today.

Dear David, did you ever hear the Honeck/Pittsburgh version on Exton? I got it but I don‘t really know what I should think about it. Brass is fantastic, the sound is quiet good but I miss the raw impact of the violins. At least when I compare it with the Karajan version. I would love to hear your oppinon about it!

Which orchestra does Solti conduct in his recording # 2?

Those are all great ones. Two you didn't mention that I really like: Honeck/Pittsburgh/R.R. and Mehta/L.A. Phil./Decca. I like Mehta's early L.A. one as much as his N.Y./Teldec one. The beginning of the second movement is just unbelievable. By the way, the Bernstein/V.P.O. M5 that DG recorded in Frankfurt is NOTHING compared to the live performance I saw him give of it in S.F.'s Davies Hall. That was unbelievable - one of the greatest live concerts I ever attended. The Honeck may be my favorite overall recording of M5.

Please, which one is Solti’s first version? Chicago? Concertgebouw? There’s even a third one with the Tonhalle 😮. Thanks in advance

Can't find Marcus Stens anywhere, do I have the right spelling of his name?

Pardon this nerdy question, but what’s your thought on the low C# pizz that ends movement 1? Should it be loud? Or just stick out in the context of PP?

Having said that. while listening to Rosbaud (who?) at the moment, It sounds very good. Mahler's orchestration doesn't seem possible but there it is.

You have talked a number of times about those recording you reach for when you “just want to hear the piece,” and for me with Mahler 5 that is Bernstein/Vienna. It’s partly the closeness of the recording, but with that recording I just feel completely inside the Mahlerian symphonic “World” - totally subsumed. This is despite the fact that I have come to believe it is is some some ways simply an incorrect performance: the intro and funeral March are too slow, without question. The crisper performances are entirely persuasive to me on that, including in the 70s Bernstein film from the Musikverein, where he takes the more standard tempi. Nevertheless, no other recordings place me in an altered mental state the way Bernstein’s 80s record does.

Has anyone watched Makela with CSO last week? I am dying to hear the opinion of the experts on the channel 😊!

Hans Rosbaud’s is the best recording in your opinion? I listened to it and I just can’t imagine coming to that conclusion myself.

Completely agreed about Mahler 5 being impossible to play and get right, but for me the ones that completely 'do it' are Kubelik, Gielen, Inbal, and Honeck, whom I'm surprised wasn't mentioned here.

Abbado and Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Mahler Fifth for DG...one of the best Mahler's Fifth of all times!

Maybe the recording sessions should be spread over several days. Although some of the best performances I've heard have been live ....

Stimulating choices! And I've usually found Levine efficient, athletic and not much else. Too sane for my taste, let's say so. I'll surely give another listen to his Philadelphia 5th. I always loved Sinopoli's thoughtful, tormented Mahler and the 5th is no exception. Bernstein+Wiener is absolutely stellar and visceral as it should be. Another old reference of mine is Inbal (his Denon cycle was generally excellent and with a very unique sound image, now I think it's on Brilliant).

What about Scherchen and the Vienna state opera on Westminster??

Your fans might be interested in any comments you might have about the movie Tar, and why eg. Marin Alsop felt insulted - *as a conductor* - by it

The beginning trumpet solo is very challenging and some recordings are only judged by how this solo is played, unfortunately

any cmments on a Frank Shipway performance with the royal phil

I enjoy Mahler's first four symphonies. The other symphonies strike me as incoherent. Is there something wrong with me?

Surprised not to see Frank Shipway/RPO get a mention.