Has anyone heard the new recording on Deutsche Grammophon of Kaplan's Mahler 2nd with the Vienna Philharmonic? He uses his new second critical edition of the score which he put together with several other Mahler scholars. There's an interesting review in the latest American Record Guide (Nov/Dec 2003). It goes over all of the changes/additions/deletions that Kaplan uncovered in many of the previous sources for this symphony. I couldn't really detect any major differences, but I want to sit down and listen to it with an older copy of the orchestral score.

The playing of the Vienna Philharmonic is marvelous as expected from this quintessential "Mahler" orchestra. The sound of this orchestra is spectacular in this work. The ARG reviewer notes that Kaplan's first recording with the London Symphony is still a remarkable recording. I plan to go back and listen to it again just for comparison.

Get this recording, Mahlerites, you'll enjoy it!

His recording was the first I heard of this piece and it blew me away. It's been hard to be satisfied by anything else since.

You're right on about the VP. I've got a disc of Bernstein conducting them on Das Lied von der Erde with James King and Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau - simply miraculous.