Described it as a "moving and distinctive experience".
This is where the 2003 recording (originally on and distributed by Avie – later reissued on SACD ) really excels.
Have you discovered the MTT/SFS Mahler 4 in lossless? Share your listening notes in the comments below. Which movement revealed the most detail in your high-res system? Described it as a "moving and distinctive experience"
Critics have largely hailed this account as one of the finest in the MTT/SFS cycle. While some reviewers noted Tilson Thomas’s tendency toward slower-than-average tempi in the third movement, most agree that the "exemplary" playing of the San Francisco Symphony and the detailed recording quality make it a "disc not to be missed". Mahler: Symphony No. 4 by Michael Tilson Thomas
| Recording | Character | Best for | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Luminous, detailed, lyrical | Audiophiles, first-time listeners, fans of clarity | | George Szell / Cleveland | Classical, precise, fast | Those who want no sentimentality | | Leonard Bernstein / NY Phil (1960s) | Earthy, dramatic, wild | Mahler as raw emotion | | Bruno Walter / NY Phil (1945) | Autumnal, wise, nostalgic | Historic warmth (mono sound) | Share your listening notes in the comments below
: The recording highlights the San Francisco Symphony’s exceptional wind and string sections, with every coloristic detail—from sleigh bells to harp flecks—rendered with natural perspective. Audio & Format Details
Recommended the recording, noting the orchestra was in "top form". While some reviewers noted Tilson Thomas’s tendency toward
Then came the third movement. Ruhevoll (Peaceful).