Right from the first note of this
Mahler First, you'll know
Rafael Kubelik is conducting. The luminous haze of the seven-octave A that sounds from the depths to the heights is so quintessentially
Kubelik in its effortlessly, ineffably beauty. And, of course, it just gets better from there, because no one could make
Mahler sing like
Kubelik. No one could make the opening movement's ardent theme soar like
Kubelik, no one could make the second movement's blissful trio lilt like
Kubelik, no one could make the third movement's second trio yearn like
Kubelik, and no one but no one could make the "love" theme of the fourth and final movement heave and moan like
Kubelik. Of course, you'll also be able to tell from the first note that this
Kubelik Mahler First was recorded half a century ago at a live concert: the sound is honest but faded and the audience's coughs are occasionally audible. But, if you love the art of
Kubelik, you'll have to hear this recording anyway.