Next on the list for Mahler....

Rick,
I have been listening to the Mahler #3 recently with Jascha Hornstein conducting the London Symphony along with The Ambrosian Singers, Norma Proctor (contralto), and The Wadsworth School Boys Choir on the Nonesuch label (HB-73023), a 2 LP set. Great performance and very good recording as well.

I have Horenstein Mahler #3 on CD/Unicorn . A fine performance indeed.

Kindertotenlieder (DG 138 879), sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is a 'must have' LP in my book

Das Lied Von Der Erde is another beautiful piece. The LP version on DG (2535 184) w/Nan Merriman is beautiful, but the best I've heard is unfortunately a fairly lo-fi live recording CD: Carlos Kleiber conducting, Christa Ludwig soprano, on 'Exclusive ex92t53'. The version of 'The Farewell' on this CD is amazing.

Which Mahler symphony is his most famous? And what is the best vinyl recording of it...both sonics and performance.
Thanks to all.

The Mahler Symphony No. 3 that Slipknot mentions would be my recommendation for your next experience with Mahler. After that, I'd recommend you listen to the Sym No. 8 and then the No. 6. Recommendations for these are:

Sym No. 3: Horenstein/LSO, Nonesuch (originally issued on Unicorn)

Sym No. 8: Solti/CSO, Decca/London

Sym No. 6: Horentstein/StockholmSO, Nonesuch | or Solti/CSO Decca/London.

Each of the recommendations above are excellent performances with very good sonics.

The most famous Mahler Symphonies are probably Nos. 2 and 8. The most accessible are probably Nos. 1 and 3. For the Symphony No. 2, it's hard to go wrong with Solti/LPO on Decca/London (which I find preferable to the Mehta and several others).

Good luck in your explorations!
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