Mahler Symphony No. 2 - Bruno Walter conducts the New York Philharmonic

What about the soloists and choir?

A wonderful performance, the one I was raised on and, despite having more recent (and better-recorded) versions by Klemperer, Kubelik, Kaplan and Abbado in my CD collection, this classic Walter is the one to which I keep returning for the best listening experience. HDTT's transfer is very fine, allowing for the vintage of the recording and some lp end-of-side deterioration in the sound still being audible on the CD transfer. But one rather large brickbat about the presentation: nowhere, on the disc labels, the booklet or the back of the inlay card, are mentioned the superb soloists (soprano Emilia Cundari and contralto Maureen Forrester, young and making her first recording) or the Westminster Choir mentioned!! Mahler's "Resurrection" is a choral symphony after all, so these are glaring omissions in an otherwise very fine issue. Thank you HDTT.

Historic Recording by a Conductor Who Knew Mahler

My review is based on the 24/192 DVD Audio disk of this famous recording. Bruno Walter was fortunate to record in early stereo a work he has been noted for his many performances of, and which he has known ever since the work was presented by its composer. So no doubt, his performance will be one to remain at the top of the list for its authoritative basis. However, it seems that the master that was used for this high definition presentation apparently was a tape that was equalized using the RIAA recording curve which is used to produce LP discs, and which won't properly work for CDs or download playback. As a result, the high frequencies are extremely shrill (boosted) as well as the low frequencies. As a result, I had to judiciously lower both the treble and bass controls on my amplifier to equalize the highs and lows toward a listenable and tolerable medium. The dynamics have been improved on the remastering in comparison to my original Columbia Masterworks 6-eye LP recording of this performance. If you get this recording, make sure that you make the necessary adjustments on your amplifier tone controls or system equalizer to make the listening experience better.

Incredible recording

This is an incredible recording - detail like I’ve never heard before. I have many Mahler 2’s and this is by far the most detailed recording - there’s detail here lost in many more modern recordings. And as always, HDTT have done a great job transferring this stunning recording from the tape. Don't even think about it if you're a Mahler fan and don't yet have this one - just buy it!