A survey of the four last movements. Two night musics framing a scherzo before a Rondo finale. (1st movement)
20 remaining versions with 4 Kubelík – sorry, 2 Neumann, 2 Haitink & 2 Jansons :
| 1961 | Rafael Kubelik | Koln |
| 1965 | Leonard Bernstein | New York Philharmonic |
| 1968 | Otto Klemperer | New Philharmonia Orchestra |
| 1968 | Vaclav Neumann | Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig |
| 1969 | Bernard Haitink | Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, Amsterdam |
| 1970 | Rafael Kubelik | Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks |
| 1976 | Rafael Kubelik | Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks |
| 1978 | Vaclav Neumann | Ceska Filharmonie |
| 1981 | Rafael Kubelik | New York Philharmonic |
| 1989 | Emil Tabakov | Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 1989 | Seiji Ozawa | Boston Symphony Orchestra |
| 1991 | Leif Segerstam | Dansk Radiosymfoniorkestret |
| 1992 | Bernard Haitink | Berliner Philharmoniker |
| 1992 | Giuseppe Sinopoli | Philharmonia Orchestra |
| 1998 | Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi | Ceska Filharmonie |
| 2000 | Mariss Jansons | Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester |
| 2016 | Adam Fischer | Duesseldorfer Symphoniker |
| 2017 | Mariss Jansons | Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam |
| 2019 | Iván Fischer | Budapest Festival Orchestra |
1 – Nachtmuzik 1
1961 – Rafael Kubelík – Koln – Live
The distant taking makes you think of a ghost music. But it’s too far away. 7.5
1965 – Leonard Bernstein – New York Philharmonic
Atmospheres, drive, rather good sound. 8
1968 – Otto Klemperer – New Philharmonia Orchestra
It is too slow and too great! Amazing sound – and one of the best orchestras at that time – thrills you all along. 9 despite the too much slow tempo (22’12 compared to Haitink’s 15’31).
1968 – Vaclav Neumann – Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig
Not the best horns. Rather relaxed, but a certain mittle Europa style. 8
1969 – Bernard Haitink – Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, Amsterdam
Beginning more pastoral, superb orchestra then it lacks of animation. 7.5
1970 – Rafael Kubelík – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
There is more humor here it is even sometimes creaky, everything – to begin with the horn solo – is more characterized. 9
1976 – Rafael Kubelík – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks – Live
A little less characterized than the previous studio. 8
1978 – Vaclav Neumann – Ceska Filharmonie
Rather poetic but a little pale. 7.5
1981 – Rafael Kubelík – New York Philharmonic – Live
Slower than with Munich. Beautiful articulations but not very lively. 7.5
1989 – Seiji Ozawa – Boston Symphony Orchestra
Beautifully played, rather cold, doesn’t sustain attention. 7
1989 – Emil Tabakov – Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Distant sound. A little slow, lacks of animation and character. 7
1991 – Leif Segerstam – Dansk Radiosymfoniorkestret
Wagnerian horns, lacks of humor, a pleasant movement. 7.5
1992 – Giuseppe Sinopoli – Philharmonia Orchestra
30 y after Klemperer, still a superb orchestra. Detailed conducting in a very good sound, but doesn’t interest much. 7
1992 – Bernard Haitink – Berliner Philharmoniker
Never been convinced that Berlin suits Mahler’s music. Of course, beautifully played anyway, stylish conducting but not exciting. 7.5
1998 – Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi – Ceska Filharmonie
Drive, atmospheres, lively lecture. 8
2000 – Mariss Jansons – Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester – Live
Decided, vivid, engaged. Norwegian cow bells? 8.5
2016 – Adam Fischer – Duesseldorfer Symphoniker
Detailed conducting. More stylish than engaged. 7.5
2017 – Mariss Jansons – Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam – Live
Superb playing (live). We don’t have the same engagement than with Olso. 7.5
2019 – Iván Fischer – Budapest Festival Orchestra
Maybe the fastest of this selection with Neumann 1; too light, lacks of accents. 7
2 – Scherzo
I will pursue with only 7 versions (the other ones above are in my opinion highly recommendable though):
| 1965 | Leonard Bernstein | New York Philharmonic |
| 1968 | Otto Klemperer | New Philharmonia Orchestra |
| 1968 | Vaclav Neumann | Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig |
| 1970 | Rafael Kubelik | Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks |
| 1976 | Rafael Kubelik | Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks |
| 1998 | Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi | Ceska Filharmonie |
| 2000 | Mariss Jansons | Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester |
1965 – Leonard Bernstein – New York Philharmonic
I think it is the first time I keep Bernstein in a comparative survey so far (except for DLVDE). It’s lacking of presence, despite of some exaggerations, it sounds rather soft and not meaningful at all. 7
1968 – Otto Klemperer – New Philharmonia Orchestra
It’s rather morbid, scathing though the tempo is too slow, it is impressive. 8
1968 – Vaclav Neumann – Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig
Rather dramatic, a little dull sometimes. 7.5
1970 – Rafael Kubelik – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Rustic ad lib, waited for more but is it possible? 8
1976 – Rafael Kubelik – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Exactly the same tempo as for the studio recording some years before. Maybe more engagement here for once. 8.5
1998 – Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi – Ceska Filharmonie
A little disappointment, not vivid enough for my taste. Excellent though. 7.5
2000 – Mariss Jansons – Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester
Slower tempo, lively, accents, dynamics, superb. 8.5
I will keep the same ones.
4 – Nachtmuzik 2
1965 – Leonard Bernstein – New York Philharmonic
Slow tempo, nice mandolin, you fell the joy appearing, sounds like a classic. 8
1968 – Otto Klemperer – New Philharmonia Orchestra
Happiness again, it sounds, breathes, with a light Viennese touch, not the best mandolin though. 8.5
1968 – Vaclav Neumann – Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig
Rather light at he beginning, superb animation in the middle? Vivid. 8
1970 – Rafael Kubelik – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Eloquence, style, what else? 8.5
1976 – Rafael Kubelik – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Definitely a superb concert, I still prefer the studio recording, straighter. 8
1998 – Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi – Ceska Filharmonie
Softened, rather boring. 7
2000 – Mariss Jansons – Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester
Again this vivid sound. Joy approaching too here. 8.5
5 – Rondo Finale
1965 – Leonard Bernstein – New York Philharmonic
I love this controversial movement, as do my friend the composer Régis Campo who likes so much joy in music. A little disappointment, sounds more decorative than joyful. 7.5
1968 – Otto Klemperer – New Philharmonia Orchestra
Impressive, but rather heavy, please Otto show some joy… 7
1968 – Vaclav Neumann – Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig
Not very exciting, good passages though. 7.5
1970 – Rafael Kubelik – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
I know this by heart “c’est splendide”. 8.5
1976 – Rafael Kubelik – Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Again a little less lively than the studio recording (!). 8
1998 – Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi – Ceska Filharmonie
Impressive timpani at the beginning, great animation, many rumblings from Kobayashi, a little tunnel in the middle but superb ending. 8
2000 – Mariss Jansons – Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester
A feast, plenty of drive, an unbridled Jansons. 8.5
So my preferred are Kubelik – SOBR, Jansons – Oslo and Klemperer.