schubert06 (October 1, 2008 at 9:27 pm)

How about those magnificant tenors?! Rise and take us to God lads...

GustavMahlerHorn (September 20, 2008 at 9:00 pm)

Thanks for this one MahlerTitan, this is one of the best recordings I have heard lifetime! It does not beat my recording of 1951 with Otto Klemperer and Soprano Kathleen Ferrier, but its close! Love this symphony.

robertchoward (July 29, 2008 at 3:23 am)

Interesting that you heard it first in class. I was teaching a class last semester and intended to just play the final movement but when it came time for class I just had to play the whole thing. Our class, like yours, was overwhelmed

longboardingdrummer (July 24, 2008 at 6:42 am)

From the chaos that ensues at the beginning of this movement, to the beautiful and triumphant ending. This piece is one of the select works of music, that can bring me to tears in a live setting. Even watching this or listing to a recording is enough to send shivers down my spine.

alambic1911 (June 30, 2008 at 3:24 pm)

Remember that Abbado nearly dies of a cancer in 2001. This music should talk to him in a very special way

Zyzyzys (June 11, 2008 at 8:09 am)

They were probably just bowled over by the magnitude of it all. Quite spectacular, and it's always nice to see a conductor getting into the music so intensely. I haven't been much of a Mahler fan, always bypassed his work for everyone else's. This has left a good impression.

vkaminsky (June 9, 2008 at 5:36 am)

I cannot believe how listless the audience is after such sublime performance. Then again, the Swiss are not known to be the most exciting people.

Gesamtkunstwerk777 (June 2, 2008 at 11:59 pm)

It is of paramount importance to maintain the same stamina throughout the performance, which happens to be the case when it comes to outstanding conductors like Abbado, Karajan or Bernstein. Music like this should be broadcast on primetime television worldwide, with subtitles in order to touch people's hearts and minds.

myoozicgeek (April 17, 2008 at 10:29 pm)

the first time I saw this I was in a music history class. We watched this DVD on projection screen with studio quality speakers.... needless to say, their wasn't a dry eye in the room. I love how the cameras shake at the end. EPIC! Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Fran Symph. have a really good recording as well.

aarup3 (March 16, 2008 at 9:38 pm)

Maestro Abbado is the top Mahler conductor. I bought an LP with his interpretation of the 2nd symphony 35 years ago. It is still my favourite.He is true to Mahler - always!I miss the two soloists to sign along from "Auferstehen" as we are getting used to. I cannot understand how they can hold back?