Gustav Mahler
Symphony # 9
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor
Alan places the recording from either the March 17
(Friday concert) or March 18 (Saturday evening concert)
Philadelphia, PA
1972.
Ray contributed this, "One of the great performances of this symphony. In excellent sound. "
In the crowded football field full of Mahler 9th recordings that exist in the world, here is a standout, a steal, a touchdown.
-Or, as some of my fellow broadcast freaks ahem, expert listeners have effused: "...a gem, indeed...", "As fine as his studio recording is, this is even better. Again, the situation of a live performance is just more tense and intense. Did I hear
Giulini's voice somewhere in the first movement? And forget about that
trumpet intonation at the start of III, the orchestra is flat out gorgeous..."
Tom V, a Statework member, remembers the concerts:
"I was there at the Saturday night concert, up in the $1.50 or $2 "nosebleed" seats in the amphitheatre of the Academy of Music. It was my first live performance of any Mahler symphony and "live" is an understatement.
Giulini's Chicago recording never matched my memories of the Phila concert. Now I know my memory is correct.
Three notes:
1.Giulini conducted the performance w/o a score.
2. I don't recall a dog barking during Saturday's performance, so this must be Friday.
3. The announcer is probably from the late lamented WFLN, which was heavily involved in the production of the Orchestra's radio series for many years..."
My own scribbling from a third hearing (many more have passed since then!) include '...incisive attacks-surging, oceanic but opposite of schmaltz-then a clearing, a respite...3:47 Giulinian stomping ensues-'
Please listen closely to this recording for what you will, not least of which may include the oddball, "...And I thought there was a dog bark in the last movement! Sounded like a little lap thing who woke up in her master's purse"
En fin, a must-have. If it happens to be your first brush with the Mahler 9th or Mahler 's work (gasp!) in general, you couldn't have come across a finer first date. And before this I thought I was taking a Mahler vacation...
