Thousand Archive

MAHLER: Symphonies 2, 8 & 10 – Wyn Morris – HDTT (2 audio-only Blu-rays)

by Audiophile Audition | Jul 26, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Three Mahler symphonies in hi-res sound and recent recordings on Blu-ray audio-only.  GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand”; Symphony No. 10 (Deryck Cooke version) – 2016 – High Definition Tape Transfers Blu-ray stereo ****: GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” – 2016 – High Definition Tape Transfers Blu-ray 5.0 surround and 2.0 stereo ****: The first of these SATA has little technical information, but features the Symphonica of London conducted by Wyn Morris with the New Philharmonia Chorus, Brucker-Mahler Choir of London, Ambrosian Singers, The Orpington Jr. Singers, the Highgate School Choir and the Finchley Children’s Music Group.  This strange Mahler symphony opens with the glorious Veni Creator Spiritus, and then goes to the three movements from Goethe’s Faust, with a stultifying number of soloists in the various parts of the opera about Faust and the Devil. A number of different arrangers have had their hand at completion of the Tenth Symphony of Mahler, and many orchestras perform just the first movement, since that was the closest to Mahler’s intention at the time. However, the indefatigable Deryck Cooke has produced a full-length performing version of the Tenth, which is heard here, played by the New Philharmonia Orchestra […]