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-Theodor W. Adorno regarded Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 as “the first work of modern music”. Adorno’s teacher, Alban Berg, saw in it “the expression of a tremendous love for this world, a longing to live in peace and to savor Nature to its depths before the arrival of Death. For it will inevitably come.” This live recording of the composer’s last completed symphony is part of an ongoing Leipzig cycle of Mahler’s symphonies. It confirms once more the Gewandhaus Orchestra’s reputation as an exemplary ensemble for the performance of Mahler’s music. The highest level of performance culture combined with a sharply contoured, transparent, polished, and detailed manner of playing, plus infectious verve and an unmistakable sound characterized by a darkly golden color these are qualities responsible for the Gewandhaus Orchestra’s international reputation. Since the time of Bruno Walter, the orchestra has developed over the years a deep understanding of the works of Gustav Mahler, which in their collaboration with Riccardo Chailly has been continued. BONUS: Riccardo Chailly on Mahler 9 and in conversation with HenryLouis de La Grange. Picture Format Bluray: NTSC 16:9, Full HD Sound Formats Bluray: DTS HD Master Audio, PCM Stereo Region Code: 0 (worldwide) Running Time: 85:59 min Running Time Bonus: 29:13 min Languages Bonus: German, English, French, Japanese, Korean Review The keynote here is momentum, never forced except when it needs to feel that way. Right from the way Chailly flecks the short note of the cello’s opening arrhythmia, there’s a superhuman level of detail and textures. Performance **** Picture and Sound ***** –BBC Music magazine,Christmas 2014 From the start, there’s a very strong feeling of symphonic trajectory, but the music is phrased with a wonderful sense of freedom and flexibility and the many telling details form part of that broader picture rather than incidental pleasures. IRR OUTSTANDING –IRR,Jan’15 Here we have something special, and a good deal more than just another Mahler ninth .An exceptional production. GRAMOPHONE EDITORS CHOICE –Gramophone, Feb’15