Funny about the Szell Mahler sixth, a performance I'm very fond of. At some point recently I got a Japanese import mini-LP of it but hadn't played it. In reading up about various other performances pre purchasing the Bernstein set, I got the history of the Szell, which is interesting. As pointed out, it was recorded live, but NOT for release on LP but for radio broadcast. Many posit that Szell would never have authorized an LP release, and indeed it was released several years after his passing. I had a memory that not only the performance was wonderful but that the sound was, too. So, I popped in the Japanese issue and my memory was quite wrong - it really doesn't sound so hot. Especially compared to other recordings. I haven't gotten to it in this Bernstein set, but I can tell you after hearing the first, second, third, and fifth symphonies, the sound in this box set is absolutely brilliant and 100% better than any previous CD releases of these Bernstein performances. I will also say that while I know the sixth and the adagio from the tenth extremely well, and the fifth pretty well, the others I've heard maybe once or twice, mostly due to the length - the second, for example, lasts almost ninety minutes. But those first two symphonies are really kind of magnificent and I'm a third of the way into the third and it's just as great. I had to laugh at one Amazon review that praised Bernstein and the orchestra but didn't "get" the music at all - no melodies, cried this guy. This music is filled with glorious melodies - how anyone can't hear them is astonishing to me - I would understand not liking them - that's a personal thing - but no melody?
