Mahler, Horenstein Conducting London Symphony Orchestra, The - Symphony No 1 In D Major

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Review by Theodora Karin

Symphony No. 1 in D Major by Mahler – A Wild Ride Through Romantic Chaos Alright, let’s talk about this gem: Symphony No. 1 in D Major by Gustav Mahler, conducted by Jascha Horenstein and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Released way back in 1969 on Unicorn Records (yeah, a unicorn—how cool is that?), this album is pure Romantic-era gold. It’s not your typical polished, shiny classical recording—it’s raw, emotional, and feels like it’s bursting at the seams with life. The whole thing is packed with drama, but I gotta say, two tracks really stuck with me: the First Movement: Langsam, Schleppend, Wie Ein Naturlaut and the Fourth Movement: Stürmisch Bewegt. Let me break it down for ya. --- First Movement: Langsam, Schleppend, Wie Ein Naturlaut Okay, so this movement starts off super quiet, almost like you’re tiptoeing into some kind of mystical forest. You can hear these tiny little strings doing their thing, and then BOOM—it just explodes into this massive wall of sound. It’s kinda like when you’re chilling outside, everything seems calm, and then suddenly, there’s a storm rolling in. That’s what Mahler does here—he builds tension like nobody’s business. What makes this track unforgettable is how organic it feels. Like, you’re not just listening to music; you’re living through an entire emotional journey. The orchestra nails every single note, and Horenstein’s direction? Spot on. There’s no overthinking here—it’s just pure gut-level storytelling. --- Fourth Movement: Stürmisch Bewegt Now THIS one’s wild. If the first movement was all about setting the mood, the fourth movement is where things go completely off the rails—in the best way possible. It’s chaotic, loud, and totally unpredictable. Imagine being caught in the middle of a thunderstorm while someone’s throwing fireworks around. Yeah, it’s THAT intense. What gets me every time is how the orchestra manages to keep control amidst all the madness. They don’t hold anything back—it’s full throttle from start to finish. And honestly, isn’t that what we all need sometimes? Something that grabs you by the shoulders and shakes you until you forget about whatever boring stuff you were stressing over earlier. --- Final Thoughts So yeah, this album’s got it all: beauty, chaos, heartbreak, triumph—you name it. Listening to it feels like stepping into another world, one where emotions run wild and nothing stays still for too long. Kudos to Horenstein and the London Symphony Orchestra for bringing Mahler’s vision to life in such a powerful way. Also, shoutout to Bob Auger for making sure the sound quality holds up even decades later. Not bad for something recorded in ’69! Oh, and here’s a random thought—I bet if Mahler had access to modern tech, he’d be out there remixing his symphonies as EDM bangers. Just saying. All in all, whether you’re a die-hard classical fan or just someone looking for something epic to vibe to, Symphony No. 1 in D Major is worth your time. Stick it on, crank up the volume, and let the music do its thing. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Table of Contents

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Filename: mahler-horenstein-conducting-london-symphony-orchestra-the.zip
  • MP3 size: 21.6 mb
  • FLAC size: 150 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Fourth Movement: Stürmisch Bewegt
Third Movement: Feierlich Und Gemessen, Ohne Zu Schleppen
Second Movement: Kräftig Bewegt, Doch Nicht Zu Schnell
First Movement: Langsam, Schleppend, Wie Ein Naturlaut

Catalog Numbers

RHS 301

Labels

Unicorn Records

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Formats

  • Vinyl
  • LP
  • Album

Companies

RoleCompany
Recorded AtBarking Town Hall
Printed ByE.J. Day Group
Made ByE.J. Day Group

Credits

RoleCredit
Composed ByGustav Mahler
ConductorJascha Horenstein
EngineerBob Auger
Liner NotesDeryck Cooke
OtherDeryck Cooke
OrchestraLondon Symphony Orchestra, The
ProducerHarold Lawrence

Notes

  • ℗ 1969
  • Recorded 29th and 30th September 1969
  • Made in England
  • Dark blue Unicorn labels

About Mahler, Horenstein Conducting London Symphony Orchestra, The

Austrian composer and conductor. Born 7 July 1860 in Kalischt, Bohemia (today Kaliště, Czech Republic) and died 18 May 1911 in Vienna, Austria. Gustav Mahler (German pronunciation: ; was a late-Romantic Austrian-Bohemian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer, he acted as a bridge between the 19th century Austro-German tradition and the modernism of the early 20th century. While in his lifetime his status as a conductor was established beyond question, his own music gained wide popularity only after periods of relative neglect which included a ban on its performance in much of Europe during the Nazi era. After 1945 the music was discovered and championed by a new generation of listeners; Mahler then became one of the most frequently performed and recorded of all composers, a position he has sustained into the 21st century. Born in humble circumstances, Mahler showed his musical gifts at an early age. After graduating from the Vienna Conservatory in 1878, he held a succession of conducting posts of rising importance in the opera houses of Europe, culminating in his appointment in 1897 as director of the Vienna Court Opera (Hofoper). During his ten years in Vienna, Mahlerwho had converted to Catholicism from Judaism to secure the postexperienced regular opposition and hostility from the anti-Semitic press. Nevertheless, his innovative productions and insistence on the highest performance standards ensured his reputation as one of the greatest of opera conductors, particularly as an interpreter of the stage works of and . Late in his life he was briefly director of New York's and . He wed fellow composer and musician on 9 March 1902. They had two daughters, Maria Anna Mahler (03.11.1902-05.07.1907) & . Mahler's œuvre is relatively smallfor much of his life composing was a part-time activity, secondary to conductingand is confined to the genres of symphony and song, except for one piano quartet. Most of his ten symphonies are very large-scale works, several of which employ soloists and choirs in addition to augmented orchestral forces. These works were often controversial when first performed, and were slow to receive critical and popular approval; an exception was the triumphant premiere of his Eighth Symphony in 1910. Mahler's immediate musical successors were the composers of the Second Viennese School, notably , and . and are among later 20th-century composers who admired and were influenced by Mahler. The International Gustav Mahler Institute was established in 1955, to honour the composer's life and work.

Real Name

    • Gustav Mahler

Name Vars

  • Fauré
  • G. Mahler
  • G. Meler
  • G.Mahler
  • Gustav
  • Gustave Mahler
  • Maher
  • Mahler
  • Mahler G.
  • Mahler Gustav
  • Mahler, Gustav
  • Malher
  • Marhler
  • Μάλερ
  • Г. Малер
  • Г.Малер
  • Густав Малер
  • Малер
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  • Þüéü

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: Gustav Mahler’s *Symphony No. 1 in D Major* wasn’t just any classical piece—it was a game-changer. When it premiered, people didn’t quite know what to make of it. Fast forward to 1969, and this recording by Jascha Horenstein and the London Symphony Orchestra brought it back to life. The UK release on Unicorn Records gave listeners a chance to experience Mahler’s genius with top-notch sound engineering by Bob Auger. Fun detail—Deryck Cooke, who wrote the liner notes, was also a big name in explaining Mahler’s music to the world. Tracks like *Stürmisch Bewegt* (the stormy fourth movement) still give me chills. Romantic-era drama at its finest!