Sir John Barbirolli & The New Philharmonia Orchestra – Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 (1968)

December 5, 2024

I don’t really have the vocabulary to accurately and sufficiently convey the more technical details around Mahler’s work and the performance from Barbirolli and his orchestra, so I apologise if this review feels somewhat lacking. Classical, especially in this meandering, bombastic (?) style, is far outside of my wheelhouse. There is, however, a certain way that Mahler makes me feel. I think to say that there is a grandiose nature to these compositions is not incorrect, but gives the wrong impression of how they sound. The 6th symphony is a journey though, that is for sure, and the New Philharmonia Orchestra do a fantastic job of taking us on that journey.