This disc not only inaugurates what will eventually be a series of the complete Mahler Symphonies with the same forces, all recorded live, but also an expansion of the RCA SACD release schedule which has recently consisted of only the three-channel Living Stereo reissues. The series is supported by the Zurich Tonhall Orchestra, and they started with the First Symphony, as did the San Francisco with their Mahler SACD series. Blumine was originally the second movement of the symphony. Mahler deleted the Andante movement later in an effort to create a classical four-movement structure. The movement is included at the end of the disc so that one can program it to be the second movement if wished.
The first is a good starter symphony for Mahler neophytes (as well as the Second). Check some of the other reviews of it on our site using the search engine for more analysis; just let me say that the Tonhalle Orchestra is a major player in the orchestral sweepstakes and this is a highly successful beginning of what appears to be a very promising SACD series. If you find the Bernsteinesque emotional peaks of the MTT/San Francisco Symphony SACD series a bit too much for your blood, you might prefer the subtle propriety of the Swiss performers. Otherwise, performance and sonic qualities are very similar.
– John Sunier
