Aside from his sensational
Wagner Ring cycle, if one recording in
Georg Solti's catalog bears repeated reissues, it must be his truly legendary rendition of
Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in E flat major, "Symphony of a Thousand," a captivating performance that was unmatched in its day and one that still holds its own against later releases. No fewer than three CDs of this 1971 performance have appeared, the 1990 double-disc, the 1999 Decca Legends, and the 2006 The Originals package, the last two as single discs. Having the whole work on one disc is a real benefit, not merely for convenience, but also because it prevents a break in the symphony's trajectory, an important consideration in this sprawling work. In terms of the performance, this recording is especially worth considering because of its unequaled octet of singers -- sopranos
Heather Harper,
Lucia Popp, and
Arleen Augér, contraltos
Yvonne Minton and
Helen Watts, tenor
René Kollo, baritone
John Shirley-Quirk, and bass
Martti Talvela -- whose ecstatic voices are set against three great Viennese choirs and the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing its absolute best. Such a confluence of talent under
Solti's baton certainly makes this version desirable, but what makes it fascinating to hear is the stunning remastering, which brings out all of this magnificent recording's refined details, spatial depth, and dynamic power, making it an even more compelling listening experience than it was on vinyl. Digital transfers of analog recordings are not always trustworthy, but this is as good as it gets; collectors who might be skeptical should compare the sound with any all-digital version -- in a blindfold test, they are virtually impossible to tell apart qualitatively. This extraordinary recording is not only highly recommended, it is mandatory for all serious Mahlerians.