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Mahler: Complete Symphonies

Cheryl Studer (soprano - No. 2), Waltraud Meier (mezzo - No. 2), Jessye Norman (mezzo - No. 3), Frederica von Stade (mezzo - No. 4), Sylvia McNair, Andrea Rost (sopranos - No. 8), Anne Sofie von Otter, Rosemarie Lang (mezzos - No. 8), Peter Seiffert (tenor - No. 8), Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Bryn Terfel...

The current pre-eminence of Gustav Mahler in the concert hall and on disc isn't something that could have been anticipated – other than by the composer himself. Hard now to believe that his revival... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 5th May 1995
Catalogue No: 4470232
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Length: 11 hours 56 minutes

Building a Library

November 2019

Recommended Recording

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major 'Titan'

Work length54:43

Album only

Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1989-12-14
Recording Venue: Philharmonie, Berlin

1. Langsam. Schleppend

Track length16:13

Album only

2. Kräftig bewegt

Track length7:23

Album only

3. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen

Track length10:32

Album only

4. Stürmisch bewegt

Track length20:35

Album only

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection'

Work length1:26:54

$27.50

$37.50

Erwin Ortner, Cheryl Studer (soprano), Waltraud Meier (contralto)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1992-11-05
Recording Venue: Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Wien

Mit durchaus ernstem und feierlichem Ausdruck

Track length6:02

$1.10

$1.50

Sehr mäßig und zurückhaltend

Track length5:34

$1.10

$1.50

Schnell

Track length4:06

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo I

Track length3:27

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo sostenuto

Track length3:12

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Sehr gemächlich

Track length1:28

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Nicht eilen. Sehr gemächlich

Track length1:34

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In Tempo I zurückkehren

Track length1:42

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Energisch bewegt

Track length2:27

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Wieder ins Tempo zurückgehen. TempoI

Track length3:20

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In ruhiger fließender Bewegung

Track length5:11

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Sehr getragen und gesangvoll

Track length1:26

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Zum Tempo I zurückkehren

Track length4:57

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Sehr feierlich, aber schlicht - "O Röslein rot"

Track length5:27

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Im Tempo des Scherzos

Track length1:49

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Langsam

Track length4:11

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Am Anfang sehr zurückgehalten

Track length1:23

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Wieder sehr breit

Track length3:14

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Molto ritenuto. Maestoso

Track length4:30

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Wieder zurückhaltend

Track length3:51

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Sehr langsam und gedehnt

Track length2:37

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Langsam. Misterioso - "Auferstehen, ja auferstehen wirst du gesät"

Track length3:35

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Langsam ppp. Nicht schleppen - "Wieder aufzublühn wirst du gesät"

Track length3:23

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Etwas bewegter - "O glaube, mein Herz, o glaube"

Track length3:31

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Mit Aufschwung, aber nicht eilen - "O Schmerz, du Alldurchdringer"

Track length4:57

$1.10

$1.50

Mahler: Symphony No. 3

Work length1:42:21

Album only

Jessye Norman (soprano), Norbert Balatsch (chorus master)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Sängerknaben
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1980-09
Recording Venue: Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Wien

1. Kräftig. Entschieden

Track length7:01

Album only

1. - Langsam. Schwer

Track length2:40

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1. - Tempo I

Track length5:02

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1. - a tempo

Track length6:09

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1. - Immer dasselbe Tempo. (Marsch.) Nicht eilen

Track length3:15

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1. - Im alten Marschtempo (Allegro Moderato)

Track length5:10

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1. - Tempo I

Track length4:56

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2. Tempo di minuetto. Sehr mäßig

Track length3:04

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2. - A tempo. (Wie im Anfang)

Track length3:32

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2. - Ganz ploetzlich gemaechlich. Tempo di Menuetto

Track length2:50

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3. Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast

Track length2:33

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3.- Wieder sehr gemaechlich, wie zu Anfang

Track length3:05

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3.- Sehr gemächlich (Posthorn)

Track length4:28

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3.- Tempo I

Track length2:58

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3.- Wieder sehr gemaechlich, beinahe langsam

Track length3:50

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4. Sehr langsam. Misterioso: "O Mensch! Gib acht!" 'O Mensch! Gib acht'

Track length5:44

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4.- Più mosso subito

Track length4:57

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5. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck: "Bimm Bamm. Es sungen drei Engel"

Track length4:30

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6. Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden

Track length4:23

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6.- Nicht mehr so breit

Track length3:07

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6.- Tempo I. Ruhevoll

Track length4:01

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6.- a tempo (Etwas bewegter)

Track length4:17

$1.10

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6.- Tempo I

Track length3:13

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6.- Langsam. Tempo I

Track length7:36

Album only

Mahler: Symphony No. 4

Work length57:43

Album only

Gerhart Hetzel (violin), Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1977-05-20
Recording Venue: Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Wien

1. Bedächtig. Nicht eilen - Recht gemächlich

Track length16:05

Album only

2. In gemächlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast

Track length9:11

Album only

3. Ruhevoll (Poco adagio)

Track length23:25

Album only

4. Sehr behaglich: "Wir genießen die himmlischen Freuden"

Track length9:02

Album only

Mahler: Symphony No. 5

Work length1:09:28

Album only

Gerd Seifert (horn)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1993-05-12
Recording Venue: Grosser Saal, Berlin Philharmonie

1. Trauermarsch (In gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt - Plötzlich schneller. Leidenschaftlich. Wild - Tempo I)

Track length12:36

Album only

2. Stürmisch bewegt. Mit größter Vehemenz - Bedeutend langsamer - Tempo I subito

Track length14:46

Album only

3. Scherzo (Kräftig, nicht zu schnell)

Track length17:26

Album only

4. Adagietto (Sehr langsam)

Track length9:00

Album only

5. Rondo-Finale (Allegro)

Track length15:40

Album only

Mahler: Symphony No. 6 in A minor 'Tragic'

Work length1:23:26

Album only

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1980-02-16
Recording Venue: Orchestra Hall, Chicago

1. Allegro energico, ma non troppo. Heftig aber Markig

Track length23:30

Album only

2. Scherzo (Wuchtig)

Track length13:12

Album only

3. Andante moderato

Track length15:53

Album only

4. Finale (Allegro moderato)

Track length30:51

Album only

Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E flat major 'Symphony of a Thousand'

Work length1:21:09

Album only

Andrea Rost (soprano), Cheryl Studer (soprano), Jan-Hendrik Rootering (bass), Dietrich Knothe (chorus master), Bryn Terfel (baritone), Sylvia McNair (soprano), Peter Seiffert (tenor), Pavel Kühn (chorus master), Rosemarie Lang (contralto), Anne Sofie von Otter (contralto), Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden (chorus master)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Prague Philharmonic Chorus, Toelzer Knabenchor
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1994-02-11
Recording Venue: Grosser Saal, Berlin Philharmonie

"Veni creator spiritus"

Track length1:33

$1.10

$1.50

"Imple superna gratia"

Track length3:34

$1.10

$1.50

"Infirma nostri corporis"

Track length2:09

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo I. (Allegro, etwas hastig)

Track length1:17

$1.10

$1.50

"Infirma nostri corporis"

Track length2:44

$1.10

$1.50

"Accende lumen sensibus"

Track length4:53

$1.10

$1.50

"Veni, Creator...Da gaudiorum praemia"

Track length4:13

$1.10

$1.50

"Gloria sit Patri Domino"

Track length2:56

$1.10

$1.50

Poco adagio

Track length6:49

$1.10

$1.50

Più mosso (Allegro moderato)

Track length3:15

$1.10

$1.50

"Waldung, sie schwankt heran"

Track length4:46

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"Ewiger Wonnebrand"

Track length1:53

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"Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Füßen"

Track length4:42

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"Gerettet ist das edle Glied" - "Hände verschlinget"

Track length1:03

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"Jene Rosen, aus den Händen"

Track length1:52

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"Uns bleibt ein Erdenrest"

Track length2:04

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"Ich spür' soeben" - "Freudig empfangen wir" - "Hier ist die Aussicht frei"

Track length1:19

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"Höchste Herrscherin der Welt"

Track length4:02

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"Dir, der Unberührbaren" - "Du schwebst zu Höhen"

Track length3:52

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"Bei der Liebe" - "Bei dem Bronn" - Bei dem hochgeweihten Orte"

Track length4:57

$1.10

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"Neige, neige, du Ohnegleiche"

Track length0:54

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"Er überwächst uns schon" - "Vom edlen Geisterchor umgeben"

Track length3:23

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"Komm! hebe dich zu höhern Sphären" - "Blicket auf zum Retterblick"

Track length7:16

Album only

"Alles Vergängliche"

Track length5:43

$1.10

$1.50

Mahler: Symphony No. 7

Work length1:18:35

Album only

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1984-01
Recording Venue: Orchestra Hall, Chicago

1. Langsam: Adagio

Track length2:03

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1. Langsam: Nicht schleppen

Track length1:17

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1. Langsam: Allegro risoluto, ma non troppo

Track length1:27

$1.10

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1. Langsam: a tempo

Track length1:48

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1. Langsam: (27:171)

Track length3:12

$1.10

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1. Langsam: Subito Allegro I

Track length3:42

$1.10

$1.50

1. Langsam: Adagio (Tempo der Einleitung)

Track length2:29

$1.10

$1.50

1. Langsam: Allegro come prima

Track length5:26

$1.10

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2. Nachtmusik: Allegro moderato

Track length3:55

$1.10

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2. Nachtmusik: Sempre l'istesso Tempo (Nicht eilen)

Track length6:56

$1.10

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2. Nachtmusik: Tempo

Track length1:45

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2. Nachtmusik: (110:262)

Track length3:59

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3. Scherzo: Schattenhaft

Track length3:02

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3. Scherzo: Trio

Track length2:07

$1.10

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3. Scherzo: Wieder wie zu Anfang

Track length3:45

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4. Nachtmusik: Andante amoroso

Track length6:15

$1.10

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4. Nachtmusik: (168:187)

Track length7:45

Album only

5. Rondo-Finale: Allegro ordinario (Tempo I)

Track length3:01

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5. Rondo-Finale: Gemessen! Nicht schnell (Tempo II)

Track length5:27

$1.10

$1.50

5. Rondo-Finale: Tempo I

Track length2:56

$1.10

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5. Rondo-Finale: Sempre l'istesso Tempo (Tempo I)

Track length6:18

$1.10

$1.50

Mahler: Symphony No. 9

Work length1:19:16

$34.10

$46.50

Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1987-05
Recording Venue: Grossersaal, Konzerthaus, Vienna (Wien)

Andante comodo

Track length5:02

$1.10

$1.50

Etwas frischer

Track length3:46

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo I. subito

Track length1:30

$1.10

$1.50

Mit Wut. Allegro risoluto

Track length1:34

$1.10

$1.50

Leidenschaftlich

Track length2:39

$1.10

$1.50

Schattenhaft

Track length1:40

$1.10

$1.50

Etwas fliessender

Track length3:35

$1.10

$1.50

Wie von Anfang

Track length3:57

$1.10

$1.50

Schon ganz langsam

Track length3:28

$1.10

$1.50

Im Tempo eines gemaechlichen Laendlers.Etwas taeppisch und sehr derb

Track length2:39

$1.10

$1.50

Poco più mosso subito (Tempo II)

Track length2:28

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo III

Track length1:31

$1.10

$1.50

A tempo II

Track length2:45

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo I

Track length1:26

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo II

Track length1:25

$1.10

$1.50

8 bars before "Tempo I subito"

Track length3:01

$1.10

$1.50

Rondo-Burleske. Allegro assai. Sehr trotzig.

Track length1:49

$1.10

$1.50

L'istesso tempo

Track length1:14

$1.10

$1.50

Sempre l'istesso tempo

Track length2:15

$1.10

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L'istesso tempo

Track length3:06

$1.10

$1.50

(Clarinets)

Track length1:39

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo I subito

Track length1:36

$1.10

$1.50

Più stretto

Track length0:50

$1.10

$1.50

Adagio. Sehr langsam und noch zurueckhaltend

Track length3:52

$1.10

$1.50

Ploetzlich wieder sehr langsam (wie zu Anfang) und etwas zoegernd

Track length2:06

$1.10

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Molto adagio subito

Track length1:58

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a tempo (Molto adagio)

Track length2:27

$1.10

$1.50

Stets sehr gehalten

Track length2:58

$1.10

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Fliessender, doch durchaus nicht eilend

Track length1:33

$1.10

$1.50

Tempo I. Molto adagio

Track length5:09

$1.10

$1.50

Adagissimo

Track length4:18

$1.10

$1.50

Mahler: Symphony No. 10 in F sharp major - Adagio

Work length24:25

$5.50

$7.50

Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 1985-06
Recording Venue: Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Wien

Andante

Track length3:27

$1.10

$1.50

Andante come prima

Track length5:49

$1.10

$1.50

(Bratschen)

Track length6:01

$1.10

$1.50

Ziffer 24

Track length3:26

$1.10

$1.50

a tempo

Track length5:42

$1.10

$1.50

About
Reviews
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About

Artists

Berliner Philharmoniker (Nos. 1, 5, 8) Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 2, 3, 4, 9), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Nos. 6 & 7), Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado

Reviews

2010

The current pre-eminence of Gustav Mahler in the concert hall and on disc isn't something that could have been anticipated – other than by the composer himself. Hard now to believe that his revival had to wait until the centenary celebrations of his birth in 1960. And yet by 1980 he was more widely esteemed than his longer-lived contemporaries Sibelius and Strauss and could suddenly be seen to tower over 20th-century music much as Beethoven must have done in a previous age. By this time too, a new generation of conductors had come to the fore, further transforming our perceptions of the composer.
Claudio Abbado is arguably the most distinguished of this group and, while his interpretations will not satisfy every listener on every occasion, they make an excellent choice for the library shelves, when the price is reasonably competitive and the performances so emblematic (and arguably central to our understanding) of Mahler's place in contemporary musical life.
Of the alternatives, Haitink's package has the fewest expressive distortions while Bernstein's is the most ceaselessly emotive of them all; neither has Abbado's particular combination of qualities.
It's probably no accident that Donald Mitchell's notes for this set are focused on the nature of Mahler's 'modernity'. For it's that ironic, inquisitive, preternaturally aware young composer who haunts this conductor's performances. Not for Abbado the heavy, saturated textures of 19thcentury Romanticism, nor the chilly rigidity of some of his own 'modernist' peers. Instead an unaffected warmth and elegance of sound allows everything to come through naturally – in so far as the different venues and DG's somewhat variable technology will permit – even in the most searingly intense of climaxes.
Abbado presents Mahler as a fluent classicist, and is less concerned to characterise the surface battle of conflicting emotions than to elucidate the underlying symphonic structure. The lack of Solti's brand of forthright theatricality can bring a feeling of disappointment. But even where he underplays the drama of the moment, sufficient sense of urgency is sustained by a combination of well-judged tempos, marvellously graduated dynamics and precisely balanced, ceaselessly changing textures. The propulsion comes from within.
It was in November 1907 that Mahler famously told Sibelius that 'the symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.' And perhaps it's only today that we see this as a strength rather than a weakness in his music. He wrote music that's 'about' its own past while at the same time probing into all our futures, music that's so all-embracing and communicates with such directness that we can make it 'mean' whatever we want it to, confident that we alone have really understood the code. Abbado lacks Bernstein's desire to explore these limitless possibilities, but some will count that as a blessing.
These are committed and authoritative performances.

Mahler: Complete Symphonies

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