MEDIUM Vinyl Record
WEIGHT 2 x 180gr (black vinyl) 33rpm
CONDITION sealed
COVER Gatefold
CONDITION COVER M mint
SERIALNUMBER Yes
LIMITED Yes, to 2000
MISCELLANEOUS Stereo
COVER DAMAGES No, we take care about that
MUSICIAN HOMEPAGE --
Ileana Cotrubas - soprano
Christa Ludwig - mezzo-soprano
Chor der Wiener Staatsoper
Norbert Balatsch - Chorleiter
Wiener Philharmoniker
Zubin Mehta - conducting
GUSTAV MAHLER (1860 – 1911)
symphony no. 2 "resurrection"
1st mvt. allegro maestoso - 20:53
2nd mvt. andante moderato - 11:19
3rd mvt. in ruhig fliessender bewegung - 10:22
5th mvt. (part 1) im tempo des scherzo, wild herausfahrend - 4:50
5th mvt. (concl). sehr langsam und gedehnt - 34:00
This is probably Mehta’s finest Mahler album ever
The first movement is very dramatic
Mehta opens with a very tense, brisk tempo
Mehta never rushes, but never drags
The timpani is very well-defined, however not overpowering, throughout the movement, as well as throughout the entire disc
The Andante is played very well
The phrasing is wonderful
The Scherzo starts out the best I have ever heard
Two crisp, crystal clear Timpani strikes
Then the next 2 are softer, then the next 2 are even softer, which gives it an amazing affect
Then to the Urlicht
Mehta’s slower tempo just adds to the heartbreaking beauty
Add to that the gorgeous singing of Ileana Contrubas and you have got a winning combonation
To the massive finale where Mehta really triumphs
The tempi are perfect
Mehta builds the climaxes perfectly, never dragging
The brass play superbly!
I heard some of the lower brass instruments in this movement that I didn’t even hear before in my other recordings
Very impressive
When the chorus enters, just listen to the bass singers! Spectacular
The entire chorus sounds heaven-sent
Contrubas and Ludwig sing crystal clear and beautifully
The organ is heard very clearly
The combonation of perfect tempi, magnificent signing and ultra-vituostic playing make the finale one of the most moving pieces of music you will ever hear
This recording has everything you could possibly ask for
Mehta’s perfect tempi, great signing by Contrubas, Ludwig, and the Vienna Staatsopernchor
The Vienna Philharmonic, particularly the brass, play just like the virtuostic ensemble that they are
RECORDING February 1975 at the Sofiensaal, Vienna
ENGINEERING Colin Moorfoot, Jack Law, James Lock
LABEL Decca
RE MASTERING --
RE RELEASED 2016
AVERAGE RATING 5 Stars out of 5
PRESSING by Pallas
MADE IN Germany
STYLE Classic / Symhony / Romantic Symphony
AVAILABLE as long as inventory