Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor 'Resurrection'

"... the new Decca stereo recording has special points of excellence all its own. The most striking thing in the whole performance, for me, is the first movement, in which Solti penetrates to the inner significance of the unusual structure with an insight I have never encountered before. The short movement for contralto is treated sensitiviely. Helen Watts sings beautifully. The vast finale ... usually comes off almost automatically ... Solti builds it up impressively ... chorus, orchestra and soloists leave nothing to be desired ... the stereo recording is one of Decca's best... bringing off perfectly all the different perspectives of the off-stage brass. The early unison calls are certainly "in the far distance"; the marching band music is indeed "scarcely perceptible" and then "getting nearer"; the later fanfares for the four trumpets are electrifyingly "much nearer"; ... we have surely the sound Mahler must have imagined, according to his meticulous indications."Gramophone

“Surround sound only enhances the excellent acoustics of Zurich’s Tonhalle” ***** BBC Music Magazine

Historic Recording Choice from Building A Library, CD Review, BBC Radio 3

‘This is conducting akin to genius, with insights and instincts that can’t be measured by any old yardstick. Rattle’s sense of drama, of apocalyptic events, is so strong that at the final chords one is awed. The CBSO emerges as an orchestra of world class and the CBSO Chorus is magnificent. The recording is superb.’ (The Gramophone)

"more than matches the award-winning quality of past releases in the series." (Music Week)

. . . impressive, though it's the powerful reading of Debussy's seascape that wins over the gigantic Mahler epic. Record Review / Independent (London) / 06 November 2004