Gerhild Romberger (mezzo-soprano)Augsburger Domsingknaben, Frauenchor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Bernard Haitink
BR Klassik · 900149 · 1 hour 41 minutes
Haitink’s way with Mahler’s Third has always felt like watching someone tend a garden rather than conquer a mountain — unhurried, deeply considered, and alive to every small wonder along the way. Gerhild Romberger’s mezzo is warm and earthy in all the right places, and the Bavarian forces sound like they were born to play this music. BBC Music Magazine gave it five stars and then came back to hand it the Orchestral award in 2018, which honestly feels about right.
Awards:
- Presto Recording of the Week — 6th January 2017
- BBC Music Magazine — May 2017 — Orchestral Choice
- Presto Recordings of the Year — Finalist 2017
- BBC Music Magazine Awards — 2018 — Winner – Orchestral
“a perfect beauty of a performance, natural sound matching natural evoution and every solo perfectly intoned”
— BBC Music Magazine, May 2017,5 out of 5 stars
London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
LSO Live · LSO0746 · 67 minutes
Haitink and the LSO absolutely pour themselves into this one, and you can feel the weight of a lifetime’s understanding behind every phrase. The orchestra is in jaw-dropping form, and there’s a sense of communication between conductor and players that feels almost telepathic. If BBC Music Magazine is calling it something that "wouldn’t be possible to surpass," you probably want to clear your evening and just listen.
Awards:
- Gramophone Magazine — April 2014 — Editor’s Choice
- Gramophone Awards — 2014 — Shortlisted – Orchestral
- Presto Recordings of the Year — Finalist 2014
“this performance from last year with the London Symphony Orchestra on stupendous form seems to mark a pitch of understanding and communication which it wouldn’t be possible to surpass. There…”
— BBC Music Magazine, April 2014
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Bernard Haitink
BR Klassik · 900210 · 46 minutes
Haitink’s way with Shostakovich has always been about patience and weight rather than flashy moments, and that comes through beautifully in this late live recording with the Bavarian Radio Symphony. There’s something quietly moving about hearing him coax such profound depth out of the composer’s final symphony — it feels less like a performance and more like a meditation. The Bavarian players are on absolutely stunning form, which makes this one well worth adding to your shelf.
“Haitink might not seize every opportunity for high spirits, but he has always revealed the profound breadth and depth of Shostakovich’s final symphony. Superlative playing from the Bavarian…”
— BBC Music Magazine, March 2025,4 out of 5 stars
Juliane Banse (soprano), Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Bernard Haitink
BR Klassik · 900237 · 56 minutes
The pairing of Juliane Banse’s luminous soprano with Haitink’s famously unhurried, deeply considered conducting style feels like exactly the kind of musical conversation you’d want to eavesdrop on for nearly an hour. BR Klassik has been quietly putting out some seriously rewarding live recordings from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and this one looks set to continue that streak. Mark your calendars for July 2026 — this is the kind of release worth the wait.
George Pieterson (clarinet), Vera Badings (harp)Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Decca · 4387422 · 2 hours 20 minutes
Haitink and the Concertgebouw have such a natural feel for Debussy’s sound world — everything breathes and shimmers without ever feeling forced or over-perfumed. George Pieterson’s clarinet and Vera Badings on harp bring real warmth to the textures, and the whole thing just hangs together beautifully. If you’re building out your Debussy collection, this Decca set is genuinely hard to beat at the price.
Awards:
- Gramophone Magazine — July 2026 — 100 Greatest Recordings
- Building a Library — November 2003 — Budget Choice
- Building a Library — November 2008 — First Choice
- Penguin Guide — Rosette
“If you only buy one album of Debussy orchestral music, this is a very good bet! Comprising his best-known works at an excellent price, it’s a great starting-point around which to build a library…”
— David Smith, Presto Music, September 2014
