Mahler's 8th is a project I set for myself for later this year. At now I don't have enough confidence in my exposure to it to make a strong buying suggestion. It's a colossal work whose performance, imo, demands as much from the choristers and solo vocals, and their proper integration, as it does from the orchestra. If you put a baton to my head and said "choose!", I might pick MTT/SFSO simply on production values or Bertini for a strong finish and great sound. My sleeper pick might be Kubelik. Never wise to discount Lenny B. Let's wait for Kal's remarks.

Without meaning to go all teach-a-man-to-fish on you, the two links to review pages in the opening post are helpful to browse and they make it easy to get at multiple reviews of this symphony. A glance finds positive noises made for Solti ('apocalyptic'), Rattle ('choral work beyond reproach'), & MTThomas ('especially fine'); I've not heard the Rattle. Ask again in 6 months. :) Arkiv shows 74 Eighths, all mentioned above are recommended w/ good commentary. Tennstedt & Boulez get solid notice too.

No need for last question boundaries - please. :) Your enthusiasm is infectious and very much hope you share your choice(s) and listening notes!

Lots of good 3rds but my most played had been MTT/SFSO (almost as good as the live one he did in Carnegie the same year) and Horenstein/Unicorn. Of course, these days, the Abbado BD is rising in the charts. :-)

As for the 8th, I have to admit, it is my least favorite and least familiar. I was hugely impressed with the Gergiev/LSO mch SACD as a sonic experience.

I like this one:

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/d...v_LSO_live.jpg

Wow, I was not expecting Mahler 3 at all... Michael Tilson Thomas/SFSO

http://0.tqn.com/d/classicalmusic/1/...r-3-thomas.jpg

Mahler's 3rd... what a gentle giant.

From the moment Pan awakens till Love tells her story at the end this is just so beautifully continuous... makes you feel good to have your feet on the earth and the heavens above... such a whole and extraordinary piece of music... it's a good place to go to.

Graham

Yikes - Mahler's 9th: Abbado on DG w/ the Chicago is impossible to find! If anyone has a copy could you please post a DG catalog number. TIA

Mahler : Symphonie n° 9: Gustav Mahler, Claudio Abbado: Amazon.fr: Musique

Maybe this one comes close?
I found it on Amazon.fr

By the way, I like this thread!
Marvelous recommendations.
:tresbon:

Yes. Close. It is an interesting experience as the two orchestras are remarkable but strikingly different.

Much appreciated Bart - I'm gonna hold out a bit for the elusive Chicago Symphony 9th. I've only looked for a day, but no A'zon or Ebay - yet. Abbado was principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1982 to 1986, so if its from that period there should be LP formats too.

Arkiv shows for CA/CSO:
Rückert Lieder (5) (1)
Symphony no 1 in D major "Titan" (2)
Symphony no 2 in C minor "Resurrection" (1)
Symphony no 3 in D minor (1)
Symphony no 5 in C sharp minor (2)
Symphony no 6 in A minor "Tragic" (1)
Symphony no 7 in E minor (1)


An Italian discography at Claudio Abbado - Discografia shows for the 9th, only these:
Symphonie Nr. 9, Symphonie Nr. 10, Adagio
Wiener Philharmoniker
DG 423 564-2, 1988

Symphonie Nr. 9
Berliner Philharmoniker
DG 471 624-2, 2002

The Japanese discography at Claudio Abbado Shiryokan lists:
Symphonie Nr. 9
Wiener Philharmoniker
1987. 5. Konzerthaus, Wien
Günther Breest (P) Karl-August Naegler (E)
Deutsche Grammophon

Symphonie Nr. 9
Berliner Philharmoniker
1999. 9. Philharmonie, Berlin
Christopher Alder (P) Klaus-Peter Grosz (E)
Deutsche Grammophon


This review, of Abbado's recording of the 9th mit den Berliners (that Bart referenced), written by Michael Liebowitz at ClassicsToday suggests that at the time of its writing [unknown, but after CA left Chicago] there are only two DG Abbado 9ths: "Throughout the movement DG’s predilection for close-up miking (a feature of Abbado’s other DG-produced Ninth with the Vienna Philharmonic) creates an unnatural soundstage that emphasizes harp and English horn at the expense of the principal trumpet, which often is drowned out (see instances at measures 38, 232, 365, and 374, and in other places–measure 294–where it is just not prominent enough)."

Reviewer's synopsis: "In a sentence, this performance has it all–except good sound." Fwiw, at the bottom of the review we find "Reference Recording: Bernstein I (Sony), Karajan II (DG)" - presumably Mr. Liebowitz' preferences for the 9th.

Not sure if this is a favorite yet, but I do like it!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

I approached the Stenz series as "yet another" Mahler set but I have been consistently impressed as I was with the Sinopoli recordings. Neither rises to a top choice but, rather, ones I return to occasionally for refreshment. The Stenz is, also, exceptionally well-recorded in MCH.