Symphony No. 7

Hybrid/SACD - playable on all compact disc players

"This Mahler 7th would be my current recommendation to anyone. The standard of playing and recording is superb throughout, it has the terrific advantage of being on a single disc, makes the best stereo version I know, and the multi-channel effect can at times be quite overwhelming. Tilson Thomas knows how to place the little Viennese touches perfectly: the waltzes really dance, and while he has the lightest of touches with Mahler's many moments of playful charm the tuttis can, where required, be as hard as nails. He doesn't impose a grand interpretation or huge ego onto the music, allowing the score to speak vehemently for itself. My only moan is that, sooner or later, I now know I am going to have to fork out for the other recordings in this set and have to put up with the missus' comments: "but you've got a whole shelf-load of Mahler already…!" She pronounces it 'Mailer', which only makes it worse. It's like a good Steinway piano – there always seems to be that little extra power in reserve, and even at full pelt the detail in the recording is staggeringly transparent. To me, Mahler's orchestration and musical message never sounded so good, and that has to be worth the money."
(MusicWeb Jan 2006)