Mahler: Symphony No. 7 on DVD (2005)

nibor from London, England , 29/03/2008

Mahler's 7th is about the most difficult of all his symphonies, not least in the sprawling last movement which can so easily degenerate into farce. I find Abbado very convincing in Mahler, and accompanied by the brilliant Lucerne Festival Orchestra he produced a thrilling and totally convincing view of the work. Superb in every way.

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A customer from UK , 23/06/2008

Well the Seventh used to be the Cinderella of Mahler's symphonic output. There used to be few performances and recordings, and even now some critics can be very sniffy about this work. I am delighted this excellent performance under Abbado has made it to DVD. I thoroughly agree with the American reviewer who finds this a great and under-rated work.

And of course Abbado has the Lucerne Festival Orchestra; a group made up of some of the finest musicians from across Europe (just one example-the principal clarinetist is Sabine Meyer no less). Sometimes when orchestras are formed in this way, they don't gel; well in this case they play as though they had been a team for years. Absolutely cracking playing. And it is good to see the instrumentalists and their instruments, in this, one of the most strangely orchestrated of works even by Mahler's standards. See the bass drum thrashed with ?birch sticks. See the tiny mandolin. And the giant bass bassoon. It's all great fun and enormously enjoyable.

I tried listening in surround sound (Dolby and D.T.S.) but I actually preferred plain stereo. The picture quality is superb- virtually broadcast standard. If I have one criticism it is that there are no extras. But this remains an outstanding Mahler DVD and I highly recommend it.

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