Mahler: Adam or Ivan?

Juan I. Cahis

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Apr 20, 2021, 2:44:18 PM4/20/21

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Dear friends:

Read somewhere that the new near complete set of Mahler’s Symphonies
conducted by Maestro Fischer is “superb and in the same high level of
Kubelik’s or Bernstein’s.” But I cannot remember which of both Maestros,
Adam or Ivan, is the chosen one. Could you help me?

Also, I want to know about the sound quality of the recordings of both
sets.

Thanks a lot again!

--
Enviado desde mi iPad usando NewsTap, Juan I. Cahis, Santiago de Chile.

Andrew Clarke

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Apr 20, 2021, 3:07:32 PM4/20/21

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On Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 4:44:18 AM UTC+10, Juan I. Cahis wrote:
> Dear friends:
>
> Read somewhere that the new near complete set of Mahler’s Symphonies
> conducted by Maestro Fischer is “superb and in the same high level of
> Kubelik’s or Bernstein’s.” But I cannot remember which of both Maestros,
> Adam or Ivan, is the chosen one. Could you help me?
>
> Also, I want to know about the sound quality of the recordings of both
> sets.
>
> Thanks a lot again!
>

It's Adam, Juan. There's a review of the Ninth here:

<https://theclassicreview.com/album-reviews/review-mahler-symphony-no-9-dusseldorfer-symphoniker-adam-fischer/>

Andrew Clarke
Canberra

Chris J.

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Apr 21, 2021, 3:44:43 AM4/21/21

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On 20 Apr 2021 Juan I. Cahis wrote:

> Read somewhere that the new near complete set of Mahler’s Symphonies
> conducted by Maestro Fischer is “superb and in the same high level of
> Kubelik’s or Bernstein’s.” But I cannot remember which of both Maestros,
> Adam or Ivan, is the chosen one. Could you help me?
>
> Also, I want to know about the sound quality of the recordings of both
> sets.

The Ivan Fischer ones with the Budapest Festival Orchestra I've heard are
very good (performance and sound). I have not heard Adam Fischer's
recordings with the Düsseldorf orchestra. There is a recent less than
enthousiastic review of the 2nd here:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Apr/Mahler-
sy2-8553485.htm

However, I can't agree with the (British?) reviewer's recommendations
(Rattle, Tennstedt; haven't heard Jurowski). So perhaps Adam's recording
of the 2nd is actually a very good one.

BTW, there are two Mahler symphonic cycles by Kubelik (on Audite and DG).

Chris

Alex Brown

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Apr 21, 2021, 4:31:30 AM4/21/21

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Iván's recordings are possibly the best-ever engineered Mahler.

--
- Alex Brown

Bob Harper

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Apr 21, 2021, 12:35:40 PM4/21/21

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the Audite is, alas, missing the 4th, but then his recording with Elsie
Morison (his wife) is one of the best.

Bob Harper

Chris from Lafayette

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Apr 21, 2021, 3:07:13 PM4/21/21

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On Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 1:31:30 AM UTC-7, Alex Brown wrote:

> Iván's recordings are possibly the best-ever engineered Mahler.

Possibly - but there's quite a bit of fantastically engineered Mahler, including some of the recent RCO Live recordings I mentioned in another thread (Mahler First and Fourth with Gatti, as well as the Mahler Seventh with Jansons). I'm also impressed by the Chailly/LGO blu-rays and the Vanska/Minnesota recordings when it comes to engineering. But getting back to the engineering which Jared provides for Fischer and the BFO on the Channel Classics label, yes, it's very good indeed - it can even bring me to tears! ;-)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2NHTDRKCPTZT1?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

BTW, I see that Channel Classics has a Brahms Third Symphony and Second Serenade with Fischer and the BFO on tap for the end of May. Could be interesting.

Andrew Clarke

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Apr 21, 2021, 5:04:58 PM4/21/21

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On Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 5:44:43 PM UTC+10, Chris J. wrote:
> On 20 Apr 2021 Juan I. Cahis wrote:
>
> > Read somewhere that the new near complete set of Mahler’s Symphonies
> > conducted by Maestro Fischer is “superb and in the same high level of
> > Kubelik’s or Bernstein’s.” But I cannot remember which of both Maestros,
> > Adam or Ivan, is the chosen one. Could you help me?
> >
> > Also, I want to know about the sound quality of the recordings of both
> > sets.
> The Ivan Fischer ones with the Budapest Festival Orchestra I've heard are
> very good (performance and sound). I have not heard Adam Fischer's
> recordings with the Düsseldorf orchestra. There is a recent less than
> enthousiastic review of the 2nd here:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Apr/Mahler-
> sy2-8553485.htm

"There is much to enjoy in this performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony, though overall it’s a bit too mixed for it to be an overall recommendation.

This is the first instalment that I’ve heard of Adam Fischer’s Düsseldorf Mahler cycle, and it certainly hasn’t put me off exploring more. For much of the symphony Fischer’s direction is really strong, and it culminates in an expansive, grandly exploratory reading of the finale. Here he lingers over some sections more than some would like, but overall I found his direction convincing and organic, moving from section to section in a way that manages to avoid sounding episodic, which is no mean feat in this sprawling movement.

Prior to that, I enjoyed his way with the middle movements, too. The Scherzo, in particular is extremely effective, with a delicate pitter-patter to its melodic scampering that works really well, allowing the music lightness alongside its argumentative power. There is an entirely appropriate hint of schmaltz to the second movement, and the Urlicht is paced just right. The trumpets of the opening sound gorgeous and, alongside Nadine Weissmann, his alto soloist, Fischer shapes the sound to tread just the right line between childlike innocence and rapt adult spirituality."

His main problem is with the choir.

Andrew Clarke
Canberra