Amsterdam deepens its affiliation with Mahler
The world of classical music has seen a surge in the release of box sets dedicated to the works of great composers, and Mahler is no exception. Three notable box sets have been published by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic, each offering unique interpretations of Mahler's symphonies.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra's "Mahler Festival" box set, titled The Chief Conductors Edition, is a standout offering. This limited edition box set features various conductors, including Klaus Mäkelä, Iván Fischer, Fabio Luisi, Jaap van Zweden, Kirill Petrenko, and Sakari Oramo, each conducting a symphony from the Mahler cycle. The box set, published in 2025, marks a change in strategy, as previous festivals resulted in box sets released afterwards to commemorate the event.
One of the highlights of this box set is a sumptuous remastered recording of the 3rd Symphony, which was not conducted by the orchestra's chief conductor. The box set also includes 15 CDs, containing Das Lied von der Erde, the 10th Symphony, and nine symphonies.
In contrast, the Bavarian Radio box set, while not limited to the orchestra's chief conductors, does feature Yannick Nézet-Séguin interpreting the Symphony No. 1. The box set includes 15 CDs, similar to the Royal Concertgebouw's offering, and features the same symphonies, including Das Lied von der Erde and the 10th Symphony.
The Berlin Philharmonic box set also includes interpretations by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, this time in the Symphony No. 4. However, it should be noted that the box set includes a document of the ephemeral Daniele Gatti's 2nd Symphony, which has been previously published and lacks distinction.
It's important to note that while there does not appear to be a publicly available, specific list of "hidden gems" in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra's Mahler symphonies box set, curated insights and specific hidden highlights can be found in official program notes, liner notes of the box set, or specialized classical music reviews.
The 1995 festival box set, Mahler Feest, was unique because it invited orchestras from Berlin and Vienna to join the festivities, making it a collaborative effort that showcased the best of Mahler's works. The 2011 festival box set, which was purely Amsterdam-based, was more widely distributed but only on DVD and Blu-ray.
These box sets are part of a larger trend among orchestras to engage in multiple-conductor box sets dedicated to great composers like Beethoven, Bruckner, and Mahler. The competition among the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic is a testament to the enduring popularity of Mahler's music and the commitment of these esteemed orchestras to bring his works to a wider audience.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra's box set, The Chief Conductors Edition, offers a blend of culture and entertainment through its multi-conductor interpretations of Mahler's symphonies, incorporating music from various artists. In the Bavarian Radio box set, the performance of the Symphony No. 1 by Yannick Nézet-Séguin adds to the entertainment value of this musical collection.
