Next on the list for Mahler....

My favorite Mahlers (on vinyl) but listed numerically, not in the order of listening preference.:

Sym. #1: Carlo Maria Giulini / Chicago Symphony / Angel
Performance ***** Sonics ***** I always use this
this recording to introduce people to Mahler ;~)

Erich Leinsdorf / BSO / RCA Red Seal Dynagroove
Excellent, not boring, but not the Giulini!

Sym. #2: "Ressurection"
O. Klemperer / E. Schwarzkopf / Philharmonia /
Angel -- Great sonics, and Elizabeth Schwarzkopf
makes it worth listening to the end.

Sym. #3. Leonard Bernstein / NYPO / Lipton / Colombia
An excellent recording, frenzied with lots of
dynamics. Bernstein's kind of music, so he's
able to keep it from falling apart ;~)

Sym. #4 James Levine / Chicago Symphony / Judith Blegen
RCA Red Seal. -- Coming from opera (ie a drama
queen like Erich Leinsdorf ;~) Levine is
perfectly suited to this piece, and the singing
is excellent and excellently recorded.

George Szell / Judith Raskin / Cleveland Sym Orch
Columbia. This one is a tough call compared to
the Levine. The Levine is modest perfection,
the Szell is grand spectacle. Take your pick.

Sym. #5 Rafael Kubelik / Bayerischen Sym Orch / DGG
Excellent, but the "bonus" on the second record
is Songs of a Wayfarer sung by D. Fischer-Dieskau
which is worth the ticket.

Erich Leinsdorf / BSO / RCA Red Seal Dynagroove
IMO, Leinsdorf, like Ormandy, is soooooo very
competant, and like Ormandy, has such a great
orchestra behind him. One can sometimes imagine
their performances are artful and passionate.
Usually I can snap out of it. Phyllis Curtin's
bonus side, Excerpts from Wozzeck, is great for
Alban Berg fans.

Sym. #9 Rafael Kubelik / Bayerischen Sym Orch / DGG
Excellent recording. Good performance (ie it
won't put you to sleep,) but I didn't get it.
There must be better.

There's a Columbia LP that you might be able to find of Mahler song cycles (they are wonderful), sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau with Leonard Bernstein on piano. These cycles are usually performed with singer and orchestra, but Mahler wrote them orginally for piano accompaniment. Anyhow, the LP sounds sensational on my system--warmer and with more presence than the CD version.

Also, look for a used 70's vintage DG LP of Fischer-Dieskau singing some of the same song cycles with orchestra, Karl Boehm conducting. The sonics aren't as good, but the performances are first rate.

Mahler's 5th symphony is my favorite. Riccardo Chailly on Decca. This recording is just awesome as far as quality. Performance is very good as well. Bu if you want the best performance of it(but it also happens to be the worst recording quality), try Mahler's 5th by Bruno Walter and New York Philharmonics orchestra. Most emotional, but again, worst quality recording. I think it's even in mono.

Also, if you're into this kind of music, Shostakovich's 5th symphony is great. My highest recommendation after Mahler's 5th.......Enjoy

Be careful with Bernstein and the NY Phil. Lenny's interpretation can't quite overcome the sloppy technique and bad intonation.

Check out Bernstein's recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic on DG. Symph #5 with Songs of a Wayfarer would be a wonderful place to start.

All of Mahler's symphonies have something wonderful to offer. Taking the time to explore them all will be very rewarding. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are my favs.

Also find the vinyl Mahler 7 with Otto Klemperer and the Philharmonia Orchestra on British EMI (i.e., don't get the US Angel or German Electrola vinyl pressings). The CD also sounds quite good.

While this may be Mahler's least popular symphony, it is a masterpiece. Klemperer's way is quirky and eccentric, but my favorite. Listen to it several times and you won't want to play the versions of other conductors. He brings out the beauty, angst and mystery of the first movement like no other. The "nactmusik" movements do indeed envoke the mystery and enchantment of the night. Other conductors tend to gloss over this music with too fast tempos, as if they can't quite figure out what Mahler was trying to say.

The sonics are simply knock out quality and come closer to a live concert hall experience than most classical recordings.

The orchestra is amazing in its virtuosity and tonal beauty. In its heyday, it was in a small handful of the world's finest orchestras.

Can't recommend highly enough.