Most convincing

Knowing all the Mahler Symphonies "extremely" well, some (such as nos. 6 and 8) like the back of my hand, I have always struggled with No.10. Of course the first 2 movements (the ones "mostly" completed by the composer) are astonishingly great, but - from the extant sketches of the remaining 3 movements - the sundry completions by many composers and musicologists these past 60-70 years have generally left me ho-hum and unenthused. Failing to reconcile myself with this work after copious listenings of a number of different conductors and recordings, I always put this down to the fact that the hand (and genius!) of the composer was seriously wanting. The questionable orchestration, plus the absence of those glorious Mahlerian textures and harmonies, too often failed to enlist my unequivocal devotion. Of the recordings I already have, I always felt the conductors were not entirely convinced of these completions; for me, a little too "documentation-like", even circumspect, rather than committing unconditionally to the work as it stands. When this recording with Jean Martinon became available, and having already purchased the Morris recording from this site, plus owning 4-5 other performances on CD, I was extremely hesitant. But I have never looked back, having found this performance thrilling, exciting, and thoroughly convincing. For decades, this is the recording I had been searching for! It is not a reading dressed up with mascara, eye shadow, and lipstick; it is played like a fully legitimate Mahler Symphony. Whether this is due to it being a live performance or not, I’m not sure, but I for one am comprehensively sold! Gil Sullivan