Which of these recordings would you recommend as the best introduction to Josef Suk's Asrael Symphony?

Question

I've narrowed down them down to six although the Kubelik is almost impossible to find ) :
Václav Talich, 
Rafael Kubelik,
Kirill Petrenko,
Libor Pesek,
Vladimir Ashkenazy and most recently the late Charles Mackerras.

Any thoughts or opinions are most welcome.
thanks
Mephistopheles

Asrael Symphony in C minor, Opus 27 (1906)
http://www.musicweb-international.com/Programme_Notes/suk_asraelsym.htm

del_icious_manager · Accepted Answer

Interestingly, you haven't mentioned two recordings I hold in high esteem (which makes me curious about your 'narrowing down') process. I have a soft spot for the old Czech Philharmonic recording conducted by Václav Neumann, although I recognise that some find his reading slightly lacking in that last degree of passion so vital in this wonderful symphony.

My first choice would be another, more recent recording by the Czech Philharmonic (surely one of the world's most underrated orchestras), this time conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek.

Of course, all Talich's historic recordings seem to be wonderful, somehow and I haven't yet heard Charles Mackerras's recording. However, knowing his pedigree in all things Czech, I bet that's wonderful too.

EDIT: I haven't heard the Petrenko either, although it has some excellent reviews. However, for me, you need the sound of a Czech orchestra in this music and they sound quite different to the German style of playing you're likely to get on Petrenko's recording. Blimey, you're going to have to get Bělohlávek AND Mackerras, I think!

Which of these recordings would you recommend as the best introduction to Josef Suk's Asrael Symphony?

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