Ticket to London, please...

To get right down to it, if you are looking for a recording of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony from Sir Georg Solti, go for his earlier London recording.

My reason is solely based on the soloists, who are no favorites of mine. This really only covers the last third of the work, so is it really a deal breaker?

For this listener, in this piece, yes. Simply stated, the vocal portions are the soul and denouement of the work. Some who can't stand vocalizing may believe voice has no place in a symphony, but that is an argument for another day. If we went there, we would have to start considering whether or not Solti is worth our time in Mahler at all. Another time...

Otherwise, I love Chicago and Solti in the orchestra only portions, and find little fault from that perspective. But in short, just go for London.

A review from 2024

Mahler’s gargantuan Symphony 2 ‘Resurrection’ sits with the 8th with all of its towering chorus and vocal contributions, although the 2nd bears far more symphony than its sister composition.

Solti’s way with Mahler is more of a rough handling, rather than one finding his way through the mysterious woods. It is very exciting, and having the great Margaret Hillis-prepared Chicago Symphony Chorus at its conclusion is a boon. Solti certainly has his own harrowing vision of death and transfiguration; suffice to say, he does not 'go gentle into that good night'.

Most point to Solti’s earlier recording of Mahler 2 with the London SO as the superior version. Who am I to disagree? For sure though, I find the vocal soloists on that one far superior to these two in Chicago. So too, I like the earlier analogue sonics compared to Decca’s later edgy soundscape.

Yet, Chicago plays with thrilling alacrity, so the great majority of this recording is wonderful.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Symphony 2 in C minor 'Resurrection

  I. 20.36
 II. 11.14
III. 10.22
IV. 4.51
 V. 33.48

Soloists
Isobel Buchanan, soprano
Mira Zakai, alto

Ensembles
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Georg Solti, conductor

Label: Decca
Year: 1983
Total Timing: 80.51

Well, it is not so bad as to toss into the moat, but it is not one particularly worth revisiting either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Find more Mahler recordings HERE!