Aside from his sensational Wagner Ring cycle, if one recording in Georg Solti's catalog bears repeated reissues, it must be his truly legendary 1971 rendition of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in E flat major, "Symphony of a Thousand," a captivating performance that was unmatched in its day and one that still holds its own against later releases. This recording is especially worth considering because of its unequaled octet of singers -- sopranos Heather Harper, Lucia Popp, and Arleen Augér, contraltos Yvonne Minton and ...
Read More
Aside from his sensational Wagner Ring cycle, if one recording in Georg Solti's catalog bears repeated reissues, it must be his truly legendary 1971 rendition of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in E flat major, "Symphony of a Thousand," a captivating performance that was unmatched in its day and one that still holds its own against later releases. This recording is especially worth considering because of its unequaled octet of singers -- sopranos Heather Harper, Lucia Popp, and Arleen Augér, contraltos Yvonne Minton and Helen Watts, tenor René Kollo, baritone John Shirley-Quirk, and bass Martti Talvela -- whose ecstatic voices are set against three great Viennese choirs and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing at its absolute best. Such a confluence of talent under Solti's baton certainly makes this version desirable, but what makes it fascinating to hear is the stunning remastering, which brings out all of this magnificent recording's refined details, spatial depth, and dynamic power, making it an...
Read Less
