What about this one? Simply not Mahler, I'd say:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41X5nUUQGPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
There are interesting ones that aren't Beethoven and Brahms, either.
Design-wise, classical music covers have rarely been as interesting as those of other genres of music. Partly that's due to the fact that you're often dealing with series, which require a more-or-less uniform approach and ties you to a certain format. But there also seems to be a lot of disinterest doing the rounds (BIS, for instance). Naxos is an interesting case, since their design purposely emphasises the 'cheapness' of their CDs - a very clever trick, albeit with rather poor results.
I did a couple of covers for Sterling (e.g., the Raff Violin Concerto one), and the problem was also simply getting all the information in and still maintain some graphical attractiveness. But there are very good ones, as well. Modern RCA releases are generally well-designed; and although I can't always say I find them pretty CPO's covers are very effectively recognisable and usually convey the right atmosphere. Telos' design is usually quite good, too.
For me, the Karajan-next-to-his-plane or the Karajan-with-the-new-mrs-Karajan-watercolour designs represent the very worst in design. But that may have something to do with my distaste for Karajan and everything he stands for.
