Throughout his interpretation of the Fifth Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas demonstrates an extraordinary ability to balance Mahler the Romantic with Mahler the Modernist. He resists the temptation to romanticize the score excessively, instead favoring transparency, structure, and emotional authenticity. His Mahler speaks with a clear voice, offering listeners both intellectual insight and emotional engagement.
Ultimately, Tilson Thomas’s reading of Symphony No. 5 reflects the qualities that define his broader Mahler legacy: a deep respect for the composer’s intentions, a refusal to impose unnecessary theatricality, and a genuine love for the music’s human complexity. In his hands, Mahler’s Fifth is not just a musical journey from darkness to light—it is a narrative of emotional resilience, rendered with clarity, empathy, and artistic integrity.
Artist(s): Conductor - Michael Tilson Thomas
Orchestra - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording Info: Recorded Live January 25, 1972 at Symphony Hall Boston
Sourced from a 15ips 2-track tape
Components used for Transfer: Analog: Transferred using a modified Studer 810 tape deck with Flux Heads feeding a Merrill Audio Tape Preamp
Digital: Merging Hapi Analog to Digital Converter clocked by an Antelope Audio 10MX Atomic Clock
Software: Merging Pyramix v15
Power Conditioning: Shunyata Research Everest 8000 for all components
All components are grounded to Shunyata ALTAIRA Hubs
This recording was made possible from the music archives of Clark Johnsen
1 Trauermarsch 12:28
2 Stumisch Bewagt, Mit Grosser Vehemez 15:07
3 Scherzo: Kraftig, Nicht Zu Schnell 19:11
4 Adagietto, Sehr Langsam 10:47
5 Rondo-Finale: Allegro 15:22
Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings
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