Track Listing

1. Movement 1. Langsam. Schleppend. Wie ein Naturlaut
2. Movement 1. Immer sehr gemächlich
3. Movement 1. Sehr gemächlich
4. Movement 1. Vorwärts drägend
5. Movement 2. Kräftig bewegt
6. Movement 2. Trio. Recht gemächlich
7. Movement 2. Tempo primo
8. Movement 3. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
9. Movement 3. A tempo. Ziemlich langsam
10. Movement 3. Sehr einfach und schlicht wie eine Volksweise
11. Movement 3. Wieder etwas bewegter, wie in Anfang
12. Movement 4. Stürmisch bewegt
13. Movement 4. Sehr gesangvoll
14. Movement 4. Wieder wie zu Anfang. Stürmisch bewegt
15. Movement 4. Sehr langsam
16. Movement 4. Wieder vorwärts drängend
17. Andante
18. Andante come prima
19. A tempo. Fließend
20. Measure 104
21. Measure 194
22. A tempo

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13097 in Music
• Released on: 1998-11-24
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

A good 1st symphony, a stupendous 10th Adagio.
This CD is a case of the good versus the great. Though Leonard Bernstein may have had some worthy interpretive insights during his years with the New York Philharmonic, I've always felt he was let down by the shabby playing and recorded sound he was given. It's strange, since the same Columbia crew that worked on Bernstein's recordings also worked on Szell's and Ormandy's, but the difference is astounding. The latter conductors recordings, even from the early 50's, never cease to astonish for their clarity, realism, and depth. Bernstein's recordings, however, are almost always tinny and shabby. The Mahler 1 on this recording is a good example. The interpretation is a powerful, flowing one, but the New York Philharmonic just plain doesn't sound good. The Mahler 10 Adagio is in a different universe. This recording was made in 1975, when Pierre Boulez was music director of the NY Phil, and his exacting standards of clarity and execution clearly aid in making this one of the great Mahler recordings ever made. The New York Philharmonic has never played or sounded better, and Bernstein's painstaking, searing interpretation is one for the ages, without the bizarre theatricality of his early recordings or the drawn-out marathons of his last years. Buy this one for the 10th.

Tremendous Interpretations
I must say that this CD is absolutely sublime. Unlike the previous reviewer, I felt symphony No. 1 comes across as fresh and exciting. I also find the sound to be quite good and the intonation of the New York Philharmonic is world class. Mahler's 1st has many colors and offers moments of breathtaking beauty and mystery. From it's almost Pastoral opening, through the effervescent Scherzo and into the darker recesses of the last movements, it is a late 19th century jewel. The music, as conducted by Bernstein, is particularly alive and engaging. Also, the 10th Adagio is a masterpiece. It's power sends shivers throughout. This most be a definitive recording of the only movement Mahler got to complete of his last Symphony. In summary, nearly 80 minutes of incredible music that captures a great Mahlerian conductor and a superb orchestra. A highly recommended purchase.

very good recording
I don't have much experience in listening to recordings done of this piece. The only other ones I've heard were of Solti with the Chicago Symphony, and one done by London. Of the three recordings i've heard, this is my favorite. The performance is by no means pristine. Specifically, brass (*cough*trumpet*cough*) intonation is obviously not perfect. The sound quality is also not exactly the best i've ever heard, though its good enough never to really become an issue. Its the impression that I get from hearing Bernstien's exciting interpretation, and the enthusiastic (if flawed) performance from the orchestra that makes this my favorite recording of this symphony. The first and second movements in particular make me want to go pull out my copy of this music and practice it again, which is sort of my guage for how effective a recording is. The strings in particular seem un-characteristically agile and synchronized. Especially when compared to other Bernstien Century recordings I have in my collection like the Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherezade, and the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, which are both guilty of being sporadically very messy. If you're looking to buy a recording of Mahler's 1st symphony I really don't think anyone could be disappointed by this CD.