Direct contact between Gustav Mahler and Universal Edition was established as late as 1909, that is, two years before the composer’s death. Of course, the publisher was but a newcomer on the Austrian music scene, founded as it had been in 1901. Also, until the appointment of Emil Hertzka as Director in 1907, UE concentrated its activities on classical music. This 12-CD set is of obvious interest on two counts - first, because it assembles all of the classic 1960s vintage Leonard Bernstein recordings of Mahler's symphonies, done during Bernstein's tenure as music director of the New York Philharmonic, in one place in some of the best digital remasterings.
The Decca / Deutsche Grammophon catalogue of Mahler recordings is unsurpassable.