I saw Bernstain conduct Mahler's 2nd live with the New York Phil, Barbara Hendricks, Jessye Norman and the St. Patrick;s Cathedral choir in 1984, I can honestly say that it changed my life. I can't recall ever seeing a conductor so completely imbued with the spirit of the piece, he seemed to just live every minute like it was life or death. I have felt fortunate for decades for having the opportunity to experience it.

One of my honourable mentions would have to be Klaus Tennstedt.

Great list. I agree with everything, but in my list Inbal has to make space for Kubelik. Inbal is very good, but I like Kubelik more and there has to be a representiv of the czech school imho.

I believe that Bernstein should get a lot of credit for starting the Mahler revival in the U.S.  When I was in college music school in the 60s, the box sets were a revelation, and his analysis of the 9th in his Unanswered Question lecture series really moved me and my fellow students. I remember listening to the entire cycle virtually non-stop while preparing for finals one year, perhaps to the detriment of my studies, because I was completely drained by the end. Marvelous work.

I would have to include Kubelik. His set on DG as well as the live performances from the Bavarian Radio. I think the DG was the first complete set  released just ahead of Bernstein's  Columbia (Sony). No "Das Lied" though.

I'm very fond of Ozawa's Mahler, both with the BSO and with the Saito Kinen Orchestra.

I would never have bought the Gary Bertini without this channel.  I can only say a heartfelt thanks Dave.

Can’t fault this list. Like many have said already, I have a soft spot for Kubelik because his Audite recordings supplement his DG nicely to make a great cycle. However, I have to give a big shout out to Inbal - I’m so glad you mentioned him because I’ve been listening to his cycle for ages and I feel like no one talks about it. My first ever recording of a Mahler symphony was Inbal’s Mahler 7 and to this day I still feel like his treatment of the finale, with all the crazy percussion to boot, has not been surpassed. It is just as fine and exciting as Bernstein’s. He’s a fabulous Mahlerian that should be heard!

Tennstedt, Bernstein and possibly Kubelik in the medal positions.

Thanks for the Bernstein discussion!

I'm eternally grateful to the gentleman, some 50 years my senior, who encouraged me to discover Mahler via Solti's 8th when I was in my early 20s. Quite the entry point, but it changed my musical life. I'm also grateful all these years later to Mr. Hurwitz for advocating for Michael Gielen's amazing Mahler recordings. Just when you think you've heard all the interpretations you need to hear, you discover that no, you haven't at all.

Oh boy 5/5 success rate! If two more should be added, I would go for Levine and Ozawa, or perhaps Neumann.

9:30-9:45 thank you for the levity. Great stuff.

I have come to like the Tennstedt cycle very much, so I would leave out Bertini and add Tennstedt.

I hope Manfred Honeck has the opportunity to do a Mahler cycle with a European or American orchestra. I think the Japanese recordings I have are wonderful, but they are ridiculously expensive.

Really I find it impossible to argue with this list (and thanks for including Inbal's Denon Cycle which must be one of the most crimimally underated  - remarkably consistent). I suppose, if pushed, I'd be tempted to include in mine Kubelik (combination of DG & Audite) and maybe Ozawa (DG, Phillps & Sony) but really wouldn't want to give up those core ones mentioned. So they would have to get my nod ultimately.

Gielen deserves to be on here,thanks!....His 8th is one of my favorite recordings!

I didn't much like Mahler when I was young, and my opinion was totally changed by Bernstein's 1980s TV programme "The Little Drummerboy" paired with a superb performance of Des Knaben Wunderhorn with Walton Groenroos and Lucia Popp who worked brilliantly together. For the first time, I really "got" Mahler.  Even now I can't say that either Mahler or Bernstein are my favourite artists, but the combination was special.

I'm so glad you have included the cycles of Gielen and Bertini, Mr. Hurwitz.

Gielen's 7th with SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden Baden is fantastic indeed- the recording that finally. brought me into this work. In my experience only matched by Abbado and Lucerne Festival S.O. in a unforgettable . concert on 17th August 2005 in Luzern