"Bravo! Bravissimo! no one has combined the expressions of poetic vision with astute musical analysis as brilliantly as you have here. What a perfect way to start people on the adventure that is Mahler 1."

- Lew Smolley, President of the New York Mahler Society

Benjamin Zander and the Philharmonia's recording of Mahler's "First Symphony" coupled with his "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" sung by baritone Christopher Maltman is not only the best Mahler's First in decades, it is one of the great recorded performances.  Read more...

- James Leonard, All Music Guide

"Benjamin Zander continues his essential Mahler series for Telarc with this outstanding release." Read more...

- Raymond Tuttle, Classical Net

"I can't remember when I last heard such a thrilling recording of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1. " Read more...

- Strictly Classical, Copley New Service, December 4, 2005

"Many other conductors have recorded them, but Zander stands high above the Alpine clouds." Read more...

- Martin Steinberg, Associated Press

"His reading of the whole work — and of the associated songs — is simply magnificent. Four stars"  Read more...

- The Sunday Times, January 22, 2006

"It takes a conductor with Zander's breadth of vision to present it to us with Mahler's full intention..." Read more...

- Atlanta Audio Society, January 2006

“The bonus disc in this set is one of his best…Zander is a consummate Mahlerite. The magic of the mysterious opening, the perfect placement of the trumpets in the ensuing fanfare, the many ‘cuckoo’ calls, more chipper than ever, the tempos-all seem just right.”

- American Record Guide

"...a sense of the musical architecture that never leaves a shred of doubt about where the performance is going." Read more...

- Andrew Clements, The Guardian, January 27, 2006

"This performance is about as good as anyone can hope to hear" Read more...

- Fanfare, March/April 2006

Zander's rendition of Mahler's 1st is without a doubt the recording that MOST successfully integrates all of Mahler's singular ideas into a whole... Read more...

- Reviews from Amazon.com

"...this triumphalist Mahler First belongs on the top shelf beside Bernstein, Kubelik, Giulini and Walter... This is the best-sounding Mahler First I've heard." Read more...

- Enjoy The Music.Com

"The orchestra impresses with sweetness as well as power..." Read more...

- Chicago Tribune, November 25, 2005