Berliner Philharmoniker  BPHR 200361 (4 discs)

Stereo/Multichannel

Classical - Orchestral

Mahler: 9 Symphonies, Adagio from Symphony No. 10

Sopranos: Lucy Crowe (2), Kristiane Karg (4), Erika Sunnegårdh (8), Susan Bullock (8), Anna Prohaska (8), Lilli Paasikivi (8)
Contraltos/Mezzos: Gerhild Romberger (2 & 3), Nathalie Stutzmann (8)
Tenor: Johan Botha (8)
Baritones: David Wilson-Johnson (8), John Relyea (8)
MDR Rundfunkchor (2, 8)
Knaben des Staats- und Domchors Berlin (3, 8)
Rundfunkchor Berlin (3, 8)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Daniel Harding (1), Andris Nelsons (2), Gustavo Dudamel (3 & 5), Yannick Nézet-Séguin (4), Kirill Petrenko (6), Sir Simon Rattle (7 & 8), Bernard Haitink (9), Claudio Abbado (10)


The edition brings together Berliner Philharmoniker recordings from the last ten years. It includes the nine completed symphonies and the Adagio of the Tenth, whose performance under the direction of Claudio Abbado on the 100th anniversary of Mahler’s death is one of the highlights. In addition to chief conductor Kirill Petrenko and his predecessor Sir Simon Rattle, the edition features other outstanding Mahler interpreters closely associated with the orchestra: Gustavo Dudamel, Bernard Haitink, Daniel Harding, Andris Nelsons and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

In the symphonies of Gustav Mahler, the monumental stands next to the delicate, the spiritual to the profane, the tragic to the humorous, and despair to the hope of redemption. Each Mahler symphony unfolds a world of its own that captivates the listener. In their interpretation, the creation of these musical universes requires the greatest possible commitment and unconditional dedication.

The Berliner Philharmoniker can look back on a long Mahler tradition. Gustav Mahler himself conducted the orchestra at the premiere of his Second Symphony in 1895. The establishment of Mahler's symphonies in concert life can ultimately be traced in the work of the chief conductors of recent decades. The complete works of Mahler play a central role in the repertoire of Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle and Kirill Petrenko.

The edition includes ten CDs and video recordings on Blu-ray. The comprehensive booklet contains introductions to the individual symphonies plus detailed essays by Stephen Johnson and Barbara Vinken. The renowned American artist Robert Longo designed the top-quality hardcover.