Beethoven's Symphonies

[mjt0229]

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

Beethoven deserves his own exclusive thread.
But since Mahler keeps getting thrust into this, put me down for #4.

I love Mahler 4, but I think 2 gets the nod from me, with 4 coming in as a close (but very different) second. The BSO performed 4 last season with Renee Fleming singing the solo part and I was fortunate enough to go. One critic said it was the BSO's best night in over 50 years. I don't know about that bit of hyperbole, but I have to say it was a truly amazing performance.

The BSO bass section sounds fantastic. The hall is crystal clear and the section plays so well together, you can hear every note like they were one enormous double bass.

[mjt0229]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I think my favourite symphony is Mahler's 6th Symphony; unless you count the Turangalila by Messiaen as a "Symphony".

I played Turangalîla a few years ago with the Northwest Mahler Fest. It was pretty amazing. As a listener, I don't tend to go all the way through the piece, the way I ususally do with a regular symphony, but the finale makes it into regular rotation (as well as some other selections).

[Execut1ve]

I'm a big fan of the "erotica" myself

But seriously, I think I tend to prefer the Romantic era composers a bit more. Rachmaninov is really more my cup o' tea, particularly his piano compositions