Mahler The Mahler Project Symphonies Nos. 1-9 180g 22LP & Bonus 45rpm LP Box Set

TAS Super LP List! Special Merit: Classical

The Deluxe 22-LP set is the capstone of the seven time Grammy® winning and five star Diâpason d'Or Mahler Cycle recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall from 2001-2009. The series, released in individual installments on Hybrid SACD, was a commercial success and was lauded with critical acclaim. This one-time only offer is pressed only once and limited to 500 individually numbered sets.

Bonus 7" 45rpm Disc: An intimate performance of the Rückert Lieder sung by Susan Graham with Michael Tilson Thomas on piano. Exclusively available in the Ultimate Mahler Collection. Not sold individually.

The discs, originally recorded in DSD and released on hybrid-stereo and (tasteful, even convincing) multichannel SACDs, were generally excellent sounding, with a rich tonality, wide and deep soundstaging, and terrific dynamic scaling and extended range. Not only have these qualities translated beautifully to vinyl, they actually, perhaps even surprisingly, sound better than ever... Dynamic range was consistently very wide, and yet natural and cohesive, too. As we know, Mahler scores frequently swing from a barely audible hush to the kind of in-your-face rush of sound that can figuratively knock you off your feet. But even during the full-on climax of No. 8, with its huge orchestral and multi-chorus score, the dynamic wave of the music kept rolling until my Maggie 1.7's started to max-out... beautiful micro-dynamic resolution and explosive macro-dynamics are triumphs of this set... for those who obtain this set, the 'bonus' 45rpm LP of the Ruckert-Lieder with Thomas and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham is a treasure. It's remarkably intimate, present, and like-like sounding.