San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas - Mahler: Symphony No. 1 (2002) [SACD]

Interpretatively this is a superb Mahler 1, alongside Bernstein’s & Abbado’s DG recordings & many others.
One tiny caveat is that compared to the other MTT Mahler SACDs I have heard in surround sound (Nos 4 & 6), this 1 does feature rather too much ambient sound from the rear speakers – & I am not the only reviewer to have commented on this. Such a slight imbalance does not afflict the superb 4th on SACD, which is truly state of the art in terms of sound.
If you just listen in stereo, then buy with 100% confidence, as this is a highly involving performance in superb sound.
SA-CD.net review by Polly Nominal November 7, 2008:
This is a reading that I find hard to match with the glowing reviews accorded to it.
The playing in the main is good but far from that of a front rank, world class orchestra especially 1 steeped in a tradition of performing Mahler. For 1 thing, the brass above a forte becomes rather blaring than piercing to this listeners ears & becomes quite uncomfortable on repeated listening. The main issue is 1 of Tilson-Thomas’ conducting – quite why he feels it necessary to rush through the (what should be to these ears) terrifying restatement of the opening motif at around 8 minutes & obviate any feeling of panic is not apparent. Nor are the many contrary expansions of ritardando’s to the almost perversely turgid. Both the rushing & the slowing have, for this listener at least, ruined any sense of a build up of momentum by continually pulling the underlying tempo around by such a large extent that it breaks rather than bends.
The engineering is very good for a live performance although a far greater amount of audience noise mid-music intrudes than on the comparable Mahler: Symphony No. 1 – Jansons (until the Dutch audience erupts with acclamation after the final orchestral hammer blows).
As other reviews illustrate though, this approach finds its admirers & devotees – it is clear that Mahler divides performers & listeners as almost no other composer, so do listen before purchasing.