In reply to kevin stephens:
Agreed, absolutely brilliant, but quite full on. Agreed RE the others, though I'd have perhaps said 4-5-1. As for Das Liede von der Erde...
It's funny isn't it? In my late teens and early 20s I used to love listening to the fairly "heavy" end of the Mahler/Bruckner/Wagner/etc spectrum, but I've since mellowed (appreciate I'm sounding like a codger... I'm not yet 30). Before, I'd rarely be heard listening to anything classical in nature, but today I do find myself more frequently reaching that way. Indeed, even found myself enjoying Haydn's "seasons" oratorio this morning.
I've also been enjoying an introduction to organ symphonies over the last little while, inspired by seeing Guilmant's performed in Ripon cathedral a little while back. Bit of a thread hijack, but do others have any recommendations?