Bernstein makes Mahler's First a true "Titan." I wept listening to the first movement. This interpretation is far more powerful and also more subtle than most Mahlers on the market. Listening to the recording,one wonders if Mahler might have been recognized as a visionary composer far earlier if a conductor with Bernstein's soul and power had been born a generation or two earlier.

Leonard Bernstein, of course, led the great Mahler revival during the 20th century. His interpretation of Mahler's first symphony would make Mahler himself proud. The only reason I give the album a 4 is because iTunes made a mistake by putting the last part of the 2nd movement and the first part of the 3rd movement in the wrong places. The third movement is supposed to BEGIN with the Frere Jacques theme, but they have put the wrong title on it, and placed it in the second movement. That is wrong, and It would be very irritating to anyone who listened to the piece. Disregarding this, buy a Bernstein interpretation before ANY other conductor.