For many years Bruno Walter was a friend and collaborator of Gustav Mahler, and his interpretations of the composer's symphonies are generally considered unsurpassed models. The "official" studio recordings of Mahler's works, however, were made towards the end of his life and perhaps do not give a good enough idea of the Bacchic frenzy that characterised the German conductors early interpretations of them. In this beautiful 1939 live recording, instead, the Bacchic frenzy is all there, fascinating from the first measures and reaching an apex in the powerful and impressive Finale. The complex personality of Bruno Walter the interpreter cannot be fully understood without listening to this CD.