Over the last few days, I've listened to all five recordings of Mahler's Seventh that I now own:
-- Bernstein, NYPO (Sony)
-- Boulez, Cleveland O (DG)
-- Kubelik, Bavarian Radio SO (DG)
-- Levine, Chicago SO (RCA/Sony)
-- Rattle, City of Birmingham SO (Warner)
My favorite recording is by Kubelik, followed very closely by Boulez and Levine.
For me, Bernstein and Rattle are less persuasive.
I've ordered Abbado's recording with the Berlin PO. I'll have to see how it stacks up when it arrives.