Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

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Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

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Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012)
Full BluRay 1:1 | BDMV | 1080i MPEG-4 AVC @ 18001 kbps; 29,970 fps | 95:42 | 22.31 GB
Audio1: DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4012 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio2: LPCM 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Genre: Classical | Choral & Soloists Subtitles: German, English, French

Five stars seem hardly enough to rate the technical qualities of this disc. The picture quality is as sharp and clear as you could wish, but it is the phenomenal sound which almost beggars description. This is demonstration quality sound par excellence - a valuable plus point in a recording of this work. Abbado's 2003 Lucerne performance sounds spectacular, and still holds its own sonically against its rivals, but the improvements in recording technology over the intervening period have been exploited to astonishing effect on this disc.

Chailly uses a larger choir than Abbado, and the choral singing is as good as on the Abbado disc, but whereas Chailly's choir look like any choir one might see at a concert, Abbado's singers are dressed in monk-like robes and are more rigid and austere in their movements.

Chailly pauses (and moves off the podium) at the end of the first movement, in line with Mahler's instructions - it is at this point that the two soloists come onstage. Sarah Connolly(Chailly) and Anna Larsson (Abbado) are both good in the brief "Urlicht" movement, Larsson adopting a slightly more tender delivery.

The start of the last movement is almost literally shattering in the Chailly performance, more effective than in the Abbado performance not least because of the sound quality on the Chailly disc.

The Chailly performance is magnificent by any standard (and unmatched in sound quality). Its obvious rival on disc is the Abbado Lucerne performance - also magnificent. Buy both, for their different approaches to the symphony.

Of greater significance, the utterly astounding audio/video quality of this production. I'm in the business, and this disc could be considered a "Master Class" in the proper lighting, direction and sound production for a multi-channel concert recording. The lighting is superb, the sound mixing is easily "best in class," and the HD image quality, well it's like you're looking out a window, not at your plasma screen. Let's just hope for the DTS-HD-MA 5.1 your amplifier can handle it. This disc wants to be played loud!

Do not hesitate, this is one of the finest discs in my sizable collection. I'm considering buying a second, just so I have a spare! Enjoy with a glass or two of exceptional whisky, you won't be sorry.

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Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

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Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

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Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

Close

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Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

Close

×

Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

Close

×

Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

Close

×

Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

Close

×

Riccardo Chailly, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” (2012) [Blu-ray]

Close