Jean Martinon Conducts the Chicago Symphony in Mahler's Symphony No. 3 (1967 Live)

[maestrob]

COMMENT: This may be the finest Mahler III I have ever heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpxDNCUD_EA

Gustav Mahler. Symphony no. 3 in D minor
Regina Resnik, mezzo-soprano; Women of the Chicago Symphony Chorus (Margaret Hillis, director); Chicago Children’s Choir (Christopher Moore, director); Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Jean Martinon, conductor
Recorded in Orchestra Hall, Chicago, 23, 24, and 25 March 1967

I. Kräftig. Entschieden (0:00)
II. Tempo di menuetto (32:03)
III. Comodo. Scherzando (42:10)
IV. Sehr langsam. Misterioso (58:38)
V. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (1:07:21)
VI. Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden (1:11:25)

[Heck148]

Great recording....the Finale is the best I've ever heard....wonderful...must have been cosmic, live in the hall....

[maestrob]

Great recording....the Finale is the best I've ever heard....wonderful...must have been cosmic, live in the hall....

Chicago issued this on a private label box some years back. I was lucky enough to acquire a copy at half price, and this performance is now part of my regular listening along with Abbado/Lucerne on DVD.

Martinon's recordings while he was in Chicago are universally excellent. Too bad he didn't stay longer. What a fine combination!

[Heck148]

Martinon's recordings while he was in Chicago are universally excellent. Too bad he didn't stay longer. What a fine combination!

Yes!! so many absolute winners!! Miraculous Mandarin, Nielsen 4, Arcana, Mennin 7, Mahler 3 and 10, Ravel, Frank Martin Cto, Bizet, etc, etc..
The RCA complete Martinon/CSO Box set is terrific - all the RCA recordings, in the best sound I've heard them....
Too bad he ran amuck of "Cloddia" Cassidy, the critic....also, he encountered terrible personnel problems with orchestra members [R. Still]...most unfortunate, he was a fine conductor...

[Seán]

That’s another one to add to my list.

I do like Martinon’s Debussy recordings on Brilliant Classics with Orchestre National de lORTF and I have a 10 cd Membran box set which is very good indeed, I like his work.

[maestrob]

That’s another one to add to my list.

I do like Martinon’s Debussy recordings on Brilliant Classics with Orchestre National de lORTF and I have a 10 cd Membran box set which is very good indeed, I like his work.

Hello, Sean! Always glad to hear from you. And Happy Memorial Day to you! (That's our holiday that we celebrate today.)

There are still some copies of the Sony/RCA box of Martinon's recordings available here for about $60, well worth the price, IMHO.



There are also boxes from Decca, Philips and EMI/Erato if you're interested:

[Seán]

Thanks for the recommendations Brian, I do appreciate it.