Alex Ross, Musikkritiker des New Yorker, empfiehlt folgende Mahler-Interpretationen für Einsteiger:

No. 1: Rafael Kubelík, Bavarian Radio Symphony (DG)
No. 2: Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony (EMI)
No. 3: Jascha Horenstein, London Symphony (Unicorn) or Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
No. 4: Iván Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra (Channel Classics)
No. 5: Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic (DG)
No. 6: Pierre Boulez, Vienna Philharmonic (DG)
No. 7: Michael Tilson Thomas, London Symphony (BMG)
No. 8: Horenstein, London Symphony, 1959 (BBC Legends)
No. 9: Bernstein, Berlin Philharmonic, 1979 (DG)
No. 10: Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)
Rückert Lieder, Kindertotenlieder, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen: Janet Baker, John Barbirolli, New Philharmonia Orchestra (EMI)
Das Lied von der Erde: Christa Ludwig, Fritz Wunderlich, Otto Klemperer, New Philharmonia Orchestra (EMI)