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Posted by LEE DENHAM on May 2, 2025, 11:07 am, in reply to "Re: Favorite Mahler First's?"
Thank you for this Steve - and yes, the sound is an improvement.
I think the question of "which Walter" is perhaps down to personal tastes. For me, there are three different interpretations ranging from the hugely volatile NBC 1939 version to the relaxed and charming final account with the Columbia Symphony. Arguably this NYPO recording from 1954 is the most 'conventional' of the three, therefore should be the central recommendation, but there is so much else that is special in the other two recordings, that in the end I still feel they should be in everyone's collection too. After all, life is about having a little bit of everything really !
Best,
Lee 
Previous Message
This new restoration of the Walter 1954 Philharmonic Society of New York First just popped up today. It's now on a par sonically with his 1961 performance, IMHO.
At 48:53, I find it a bit more expansive than the 1939 NBC performance (48:12) and less deliberately paced than the 1961 performance (52:12). Maybe the best of the 3?
Previous Message
I'm pleased you have found the resources of some use, Steve - and yes, that Walter/NBC account is certainly an eye-opener, especially since nearly all of us are familiar with this conductor's late reading for CBS/Sony.
Best wishes,
Lee Previous Message
Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply, Lee! In fact, it was both yours and the late Mr. Duggan's surveys that first made me aware of all three of my favorites.
Since the 2024 YouTube Private Reserve restoration of the 1939 Walter/NBC, that's the one I tend to go to first. Like you, I sense it may be the most authentic reading. Previous Message
If it is a discussion on Mahler's First Symphony that you are looking for Steve, then I'm pretty sure that MusicWeb International is the best place on the whole internet for it. What you have is the late Tony Duggan's forensic insights to a select few of his favourites here: https://www.musicweb-international.com/Mahler/Mahler1.htm as my own more rambling efforts on over two hundred recordings here: https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Feb/Mahler-sy1-survey-LD.pdf , in addition to all the back catalogue reviews here: https://musicwebinternational.com/masterwork-idx/mahler-sy1/
Whilst I admire Nils-Göran's excellent idea of having a ch
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Favorite Mahler First's? - Steve Luciani February 21, 2025, 3:03 pm
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