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5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Mahler and Berlioz, Jun 13 2004
From start to finish, this is a superb Mahler 6 by Mitropoulos. And, the recording lets you hear every note, which is generally a plus with one exception---the sometimes less than accurate playing of the principal hornist of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra. Neverthelesss, this does not prevent Mitropoulos' stunning performance from making every point that needs to be made. Phrasing and emotional impact come across superbly. This is truly revealing Mahler. Just a couple of examples to underscore Mitropoulos' ability to lay things out in penetrating fashion: Despite a relatively close sound perspective, he is still able, in the first movement, to make the supposed quieter mysterious moments sound effectively mysterious. In the second movement, he is exceptionally convincing in the grotesque passages. In fact, in situations like this with Mahler, I don't know that I've heard any conductor do better. Moreover, this IS the best interpreted scherzo of the Sixth I have ever heard....On the second disc, all selections are performed by the New York Philharmonic. Though I'm not particularly enamored with Berlioz, I do enjoy Mitropoulos' exceedingly dramatic portrayal of the excerpts from Romeo and Juliet. Regarding the Debussy La Mer, I prefer the more poetic and atmospheric approaches of Tilson Thomas and Van Beinum, and the well played version by Munch. I have little interest in the Strauss Dance of the Seven Veils....If it's mainly the Mahler you're after, then get this set.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
memorable performances, Feb 1 2004
Mahler lovers should definitely listen to this highly distinctive performance of the 6th symphony, taken from a 1959 radio broadcast. Like Bernstein's Sony account, it is extremely intense, not as frantic and frenzied, but with more flexible adjustments of pace within a basic tempo and a richer, more expressive use of rubato in its shaping of phrases, in distinction to the more emotionally restrained, classically tight recordings of Karajan, Szell and Thomas Sanderling. The orchestra is that of the Cologne Radio, not quite as flawless in its playing as those in the aforementioned recordings, but giving their all, and the sound is in clear, full-bodied and spacious mono.
The other performances on this set are also quite distinctive (they are excerpts from Berlioz's Romeo and Juliet, La Mer and Dance of the Seven Veils, all from 1950s mono recordings with the NY Phil).
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Indeed, Sep 22 2003
One need go no farther than this 2 set cd to fully hear the artistc genius that was Dimitri Mitropoulos. He followed no other conductors approach but looked at each work afresh and started from there. Even among the works of say one composer his approach would vary from work to work. It was purely the music that determined his approach and one thing it never was, stale. These are all mono recordings (nicely remastered) that come from 2 sources. Mitropoulos' CBS/Columbia studio recordings make up disc 2 while disc 1 comes from Radio Cologne's archives.The Berlioz consists of the 45 minutes of purely orchestral music from "Romeo and Juliet". They are given a passionately dramatic performance that at times can be breath taking. Not always though as he can bring a tinge of elfin magic to the Queen Mab Scherzo. His Debussy La Mer is no languid nap on a Mediterranean beach. Debussy wrote most of "La Mer" in England where the seas he was inspired by were colder and rougher. Mitropoulos appears to take a cue from that and his performance is a bracing one. Strauss' "Dance of the Seven Veils" has all to often sunk into the realm of caricature. In Mitropoulos' hands it is an edgy psychological drama that descends into madness. In a word derranged and unlike no other performance. Mitropoulos was a passionite Mahlerite long before others jumped on the band wagon. Even Bernstein admitted that it was a Mitropoulos Mahler performance in 1960 that opened his eyes to Mahler. The 6th had a special place for Mitropoulos. He gave its American premiere in 1947 with the New York Philharmonic and would perform it through the 1950's with the Philharmonic and other orchestras. The present one from the mid 1950's has been around before on various labels in respectable sound but the present issue is taken from WDR Cologne's own tapes of the concert and are an improvement. The performance is a gripping one from note one that rarely lets up. The orchestra gets a work out but they manage to hang in . Again, one of a kind. Nice packaging and excellent notes are icing on the cake. Not to be missed.
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