MAHLER: THE COMPLETE SYMPHONIES – SIMON RATTLE, CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, BERLIN PHILHARMONIC (12 CDS) WARNER CLASSICS

“For Mahler,” Sir Simon Rattle has said, “the symphony is where you can tell the most important truths.” The composer’s works have been crucial to his career – indeed, it was the epic Symphony No. 2 that first inspired him to become a musician. Spanning nearly two decades, these recordings of the complete symphonies, including Deryck Cooke’s completion of No. 10, were made with the two ensembles most closely identified with Rattle’s name: the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Artists
Arleen Augér (soprano – Symphony No. 2), Dame Janet Baker (mezzo -Symphony No. 2), Birgit Remmert (contralto – Symphony No. 3), Amanda Roocroft (soprano – Symphony No. 4), Christine Brewer (soprano), Soile Isokoski (soprano), Juliane Banse (mezzo-soprano), Birgit Remmert (mezzo-soprano), Jane Henschel (mezzo-soprano), Jon Villars (tenor), David Wilson-Johnson (baritone) & John Relyea (bass) (Symphony No. 8)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Symphonies Nos. 1-4, 6-8), Berliner Philharmoniker (Symphonies Nos. 5, 9 & 10), Sir Simon Rattle

 

Disc: 1
1. Symphony No. 1 in D Major: I. Blumine
2. Symphony No. 1 in D Major: II. Langsam. Schleppend – Im Anfang sehr gemächlich
3. Symphony No. 1 in D Major: III. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell
4. Symphony No. 1 in D Major: IV. Feierlich und gemassen, ohne zu schleppen –
5. Symphony No. 1 in D Major: V. Stürmisch bewegt

Disc: 2
1. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: I. Allegro maestoso
2. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: II. Andante moderato
3. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: III. In ruhig fliessender Bewegung
4. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: IV. Urlicht, “Der Mensch liegt in grösster Not” (Mezzo-So

Disc: 3
1. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: V. Im Tempo des Scherzos. Wild herausfahrend – Sehr züruc
2. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: V. Wieder sehr breit – Etwas energischer im Tempo –
3. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: V. Maestoso, sehr züruckhaltend – Kräftig – Wieder etwas
4. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: V. Wieder zurückaltend – Sehr langsam und gedehnt –
5. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: V. Langsam, misterioso, “Aufersteh’n, ja aufersteh’n wirs
6. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: V. Etwas bewegter, “O glaube, mein Herz” (Mezzo-Soprano,
7. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”: V. Mit Aufschwung aber nicht eilen, “O Schmerz! Du Alldur
8. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part 1: I. Kräftig. Entschieden

Disc: 4
1. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part 2: II. Tempo di Menuetto. Sehr mässig
2. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part 2: III. Comodo, Scherzando. Ohne Hast
3. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part 2: IV. Sehr Langsam, Misterioso. Durchaus Leise – “O Mensch! Gib ach
4. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part 1: V. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck – “Es sungen drei Engel”
5. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part. 2: VI. Langsam, Ruhevoll. Empfunden

Disc: 5
1. Symphony No. 4 in G Major: I. Bedachtig. Nicht eilen – Recht gemachlich
2. Symphony No. 4 in G Major: II. In gemächlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast
3. Symphony No. 4 in G Major: III. Ruhevoll
4. Symphony No. 4 in G Major: IV. Sehr behaglich, “Wir geniessen die himmlischen Freuden” (Mezzo-Sopran

Disc: 6
1. Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: I. Trauermarsch (In gemessenen Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt)
2. Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: II. Stürmisch bewegt. Mit grosser Vehemenz
3. Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: III. Scherzo (Kräftig, nicht zu schnell)
4. Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor, Part. 3: IV. Adagietto (Sehr langsam)
5. Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: V. Rondo-Finale (Allegro)

Disc: 7
1. Symphony No. 6 in A Minor, “Tragic”: I. Allegro energico, ma non troppo
2. Symphony No. 6 in A Minor, “Tragic”: II. Andante
3. Symphony No. 6 in A Minor, “Tragic”: III. Scherzo (Wuchtig)

Disc: 8
1. Symphony No. 6 in A Minor, “Tragic”: IV. Finale (Allegro moderato)
2. Symphony No. 9 in D Major: I. Andante comodo

Disc: 9
1. Symphony No. 9 in D Major: II. Im Tempo eines gemächlichen Ländlers. Etwas täppisch und sehr derb
2. Symphony No. 9 in D Major: III. Rondo-Burleske (Allegro assai. Sehr trotzig)
3. Symphony No. 9 in D Major: IV. Adagio (Sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend)

Disc: 10
1. Symphony No. 7 in E Minor: I. Langsam. Adagio – Molto pesante – Allegro
2. Symphony No. 7 in E Minor: II. Nachtmusik (Allegro moderato)
3. Symphony No. 7 in E Minor: III. Scherzo (Schattenhaft)
4. Symphony No. 7 in E Minor, “Song of the Night”: IV. Nachtmusik (Andante amoroso)
5. Symphony No. 7 in E Minor: V. Rondo-Finale (Allegro ordinario – Maestoso)

Disc: 11
1. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 1: “Veni creator spiritus”
2. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand” Part 1: “Imple superna gratia”
3. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 1: “Infirma nostri corporis, virtute
4. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 1: Tempo 1. (Allegro, etwas hastig)
5. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 1: “Infirma nostri corporis”
6. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 1: “Accende lumen sensibus”
7. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 1: “Qui Paraclitus diceris”
8. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 1: “Gloria Patri Domino”
9. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: Poco Adagio
10. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: Più mosso (Allegro moderato)
11. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Waldung, sie schwankt heran”
12. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Ewiger Wonnebrand”
13. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Füssen”
14. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Gerettet ist das edle Glied”
15. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Uns bleibt den Erdenrest”
16. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Ich spür soeben”
17. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Höchste Herrscherin der Welt!”
18. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Dir, der Unberührbaren”
19. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Bei der Liebe”
20. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Neige, neige, du Ohnegleiche”
21. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: Er überwächst uns schon
22. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Komm! Komm!”
23. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Blicket auf”
24. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Alles Vergängliche” –
25. Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, “Symphony of a Thousand”, Part 2: “Alles Vergängliche”

Disc: 12
1. Symphony No. 10: I. Adagio – Andante
2. Symphony No. 10: II. Scherzo-Finale
3. Symphony No. 10: III. Purgatorio (Allegretto moderato)
4. Symphony No. 10: IV. Scherzo, “Der Teufel tanzt es mit mir”
5. Symphony No. 10: V. Finale (Einleitung – Allegro moderato)