Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 12 November 2016 CE 

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IanB I
IanB Nov 13, 2016 10:19:52
Replying to 1001realapes

Have been having a dive back into the catalogue of the 90s Scandinavian Atrium label. A kind of ECM type imprint with the focus on local folk instruments and timbres.The original cds had fairly remarkable packaging for the jewel case era and so I have hung on to them in the face of the endless battle between shrinking shelf space and the vagaries of digitisation. Anyway, these are all quite beautiful ...

Various - Under The Northern Cross
Johan Hedin - Angel Archipelago
Johann Johannson - Englaborn
Nau Ensemble - The Eternal, Variations on Joy Division
Nicolai Dunger - Eventide
Olav Johansson - Storvarten
Svante Henryson - Enkiude
Transjoik - Mahkalahke

Meanwhile, inspired by Radio 3's brilliant recent review of the available recordings of Mahler's 5th, I have listened to one of these a day since last Sunday.

Herbert v. Karajan & Berliner Philharmonika
Gustavo Dudamel & Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra Of Venezuela
Lorin Maazel & Vienna Philharmonic
Klaus Tennstedt & London Philharmonic Orchestra
Klaus Tennstedt & London Philharmonic Orchestra (live)
John Barbirolli & New Philharmonia Orchestra
Bernard Haitink & Berliner Philharmoniker
Rafael Kubelik & Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Based on the BBC excerpts I still want to buy the Rattle and the Bernstein though nine recordings of Mahler 5 might be pushing things a little.

F Fitter Stoke
Fitter Stoke Nov 13, 2016 10:44:17
Replying to IanB

Never heard the Radio 3 review but if it was the DG Bernstein VPO Mahler 5th being referenced (as distinct from the good - not great - earlier NYPO one on Sony) I'd say don't hold back - it's fabulous: a highlight of probably the most emotive and fascinating Mahler symphony cycle on record.

Personally I'm much less enamoured of the Rattle set, but then I've never really been a fan of Rattle anyway, his Sibelius and Second Viennese School recordings excepted.

And what - only nine Mahler Fifths? You need far more! Try Haitink's Concertgebouw Fifth (Philips, now Decca) and, if it's his DG set you already have, Kubelik's 1981 live performance on Audite - my personal favourite interpretation of all the Mahler Fifths I know. Rafael Kubelik was a consummate Mahlerian and his live performances are even finer than his excellent studio recordings.

And if you can trace it, download Willem Mengelberg's Concertgebouw 78 of the Adagietto - one of those wondrous old records that has never been bettered IMHO. I wish he'd recorded the whole symphony.