| Review by pip440 July 14, 2005 (8 of 8 found this review helpful)
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| This is a superb performance, caught live at the Musikverein in Vienna last September at a single concert. It is not 'stitched' together from various 'takes' and it has tremendous integrity, coherence and the excitement of a live performance. I much prefer it to Chailly's recent Decca recording. Although Chailly's version was sonically spectacular I found it rather artificial sounding: too thick, fierce and hard-edged - and so rather tiring on the ears. Chailly's reading also was too lethargic at times, especially in the first movement. Mehta's version is never lethargic, not even during slow passages: there is a wonderful energy throughout, born of a single live occasion. Sonically Mehta's recording is stupendous and very natural sounding, with a greater dynamic range than even Chailly's. On Chailly climaxes just get louder, but with Mehta the tremendous climaxes open out so beautifully, mainly because they contrast with such delicate, chamber-like sound of the quiter passages. It is a very transparent recording (5.0 but it turns on my subwoofer also). If only other recording companies could do as well at the Musikvereinsaal as the Farao engineers have. One has a very good seat right in the centre of the hall. There are a few coughs, but nothing to interfere with the enjoyment of the music - just enough to make one realise that you are having a wonderful night out! I have numerous versions of the Third: this is now my preferred version, with Abbado's 1982 DG RBCD coming second. Like Abbado's, it also has numerous internal bandings in the first two movements so that one can find special passages quickly, whereas the Chailly has only one band per movement.
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| Review by stvnharr November 13, 2005 (9 of 9 found this review helpful)
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This is a wonderful recording from the Bavarian State Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta, made at the end of the orchestra’s short European tour in September 2004. This was the final concert of the tour, and was in the Musikverein in Vienna. If this recording were not a sacd and listed here, it could very well have passed like many other recordings, little noticed and never reviewed. At least as a sacd, it gets a small amount of notice. I did read a short, and very favorable, review of this disc at audiophile audition.
The playing, the conducting, and the sound are all exceptional. One gets the feeling of being at the Musikverein on the night of the concert. The orchestra sounds as if it is playing in a very large venue. The choirs and soloist sound as if they are indeed behind the orchestra, a little bit faraway. The alto soloist does not sound as if she is next to the podium with the conductor, as in most recordings. The posthorn soloist sounds very distant and offstage.
The recording level here is about the lowest of any recording that I have ever come across. Very little signal attenuation is needed. One will have to experiment with one’s system to find the correct sound level. The quiet passages and solos are indeed very quiet. But once all is in place, sit back and enjoy a very enjoyable 100 minutes of music.
I also have the MTT/SFO and the Chailly/RCO recordings. I prefer this one to both of those. This is not one to miss.
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Sonics: 
