Mahler 5: the symphony made famous by the movie Tar

godofwealth · May 13, 2024

I’m sure by now you might have seen the movie Tar, which is mostly about a conductor unraveling while she’s conducting the Berlin Philharmonic in Mahler’s Symphony No 5. It is a truly sublime work that transcends an easy description. Mahler put his life into each of his symphonies and the 5 is just spiritually transcending. What are your favorite recordings of the Mahler 5? As far as the movie, I’m not sure it’s Cate Blanchett’s best work. But I’m no film critic. At least it made the 5 popular!

Tár - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

tima · May 14, 2024

I have no plans to see the movie.

Mahler 5 is famous for its Adagietto, (Fourth Movement) as being a soulful or beautiful piece of classical music, purportedly written for his wife Alma. Leonard Bernstein famously conducted that movement at Robert Kennedy's funeral at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City

I would recommend performances from Bernstein, von Karajan or Haitink but there other fine examples.

You can listen to my recordings of Bernstein and von Karajan perform that movement at links in this thread:

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/the-new-audiophile-vinyl-series-the-original-source-from-deutsche-grammophon-aaa.36400/page-18#post-899106

astrotoy · May 14, 2024

The Adagietto is prominently featured in Visconti's 1971 movie "Death in Venice" based on Thomas Mann's novella. In the movie, the hero Aschenbach is transformed from an author into a composer/conductor.

One of the great recordings was by Barbirolli with the New Philharmonia Orchestra on EMI, done in 1969. I only have the original vinyl on EMI.

Larry

Gregm · May 14, 2024

astrotoy said:
One of the great recordings was by Barbirolli with the New Philharmonia Orchestra on EMI, done in 1969. I only have the original vinyl on EMI.

Larry

I like Sir John's recording (you are lucky to have the vinyl!)
However, the ones I would strongly recommend are,
- Chailly with the Concertgebouw (early 70s)
- Levine with Philadelphia (early '70s)
and an unusual one that I like for the devoted and passionate playing: Markus Stenz, Melbourne Symphony (early 2000s)
Of course there is always a Bernstein to fall back upon - I like the Vienna Philharmonic version (rather than the NYP one).
Regards

Hear Here · May 14, 2024

Much better known is the Visconti film Death in Venice, that memorably and movingly features Mahler 5 and 3.

godofwealth · May 15, 2024

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I listened to Michael Tilson Thomas conduct the SFO in several Mahler symphonies. He recorded the entire series on SACD, although hearing him live was a far better experience. To my ears, most audio recordings of such large ensemble symphonies fail to capture the grandeur of a live performance.

Here’s a long summary of recordings of the 5.

A survey of recordings of Mahler Symphony No. 5 by Tony Duggan

tima · May 15, 2024

godofwealth said:
He recorded the entire series on SACD,

And on vinyl.

marty · May 15, 2024

Bernstein didn't just love M5. He chose to be buried with the score (in Green-Wood cemetery in Brooklyn).
Love Tony Duggan. He taught me more about Mahler's recordings than anyone past or present. It's a veritable bible.

astrotoy · May 16, 2024

Tonight, MTT is conducting the LSO at the Barbican - Mahler 3. Concert is sold out. We are in London now, but couldn't get tickets. He is scheduled to conduct the LSO in Mahler 2 in October. It has been three years since he announced he has an aggressive form of brain cancer. He will be 80 at the end of this year.

Larry

Kal Rubinson · May 16, 2024

MTT/SFSO
Bernstein/VPO
Sinopoli/Philharmonia
Also.....Fischer/BFSO (from a 5.0 DFF256 master session file!)
From memory only.......... Solti/Chicago (from a Carnegie Hall concert where I sat in the very front "stage left" box right over the brass!!)

Dogberry · May 16, 2024

My fave for #5 would be Bernstein/NYP, followed by Solti/CSO and (if you want an SACD) Zander/Philharmonia.

Most of all, don't stop at #5: all are good, and for me, #2 is the best of all.

Kal Rubinson · May 16, 2024

Dogberry said:
Most of all, don't stop at #5: all are good, and for me, #2 is the best of all.

All good but not equally. #2 and #6 are my favorites. #8 the least. IMHO.

Greatly enjoy the Abaddo BRDs from Lucerne.

Mahler 5: the symphony made famous by the movie Tar

godofwealth

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Tár - Wikipedia

tima

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astrotoy

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Gregm

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Hear Here

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godofwealth

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tima

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marty

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astrotoy

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Kal Rubinson

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Dogberry

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Kal Rubinson

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