Arguably the finest orchestra in the world, the Vienna Philharmonic has recorded Mahler's monumental "Resurrection" Symphony with a host of different conductors. They include the Italian Claudio Abbado, the American Lorin Maazel, tycoon-turned-conductor (and "Resurrection" specialist) Gilbert Kaplan, as well as Leonard Bernstein, who played a significant role in the resurgence of Mahler's music. Finally, there were Otto Klemperer and Bruno Walter, two conductors from the golden age who both knew Mahler personally.None of ...
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Arguably the finest orchestra in the world, the Vienna Philharmonic has recorded Mahler's monumental "Resurrection" Symphony with a host of different conductors. They include the Italian Claudio Abbado, the American Lorin Maazel, tycoon-turned-conductor (and "Resurrection" specialist) Gilbert Kaplan, as well as Leonard Bernstein, who played a significant role in the resurgence of Mahler's music. Finally, there were Otto Klemperer and Bruno Walter, two conductors from the golden age who both knew Mahler personally.None of those interpreters, though, have made the Vienna Philharmonic sound as good in Mahler's "Resurrection" as Pierre Boulez. At the tender age of 81, the French conductor, composer, and intellectual produced one of the most impressive and outstanding versions of this work available on disc.The despairing, funereal first movement is gripping from start to finish. As one might expect, Boulez keeps a tight handle on the proceedings, only to let go when Mahler's music becomes dreamy and soars...
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