28.6.13 - Mahler 5: BBCNOW/Sondergard

[Nick Armstrong]

I was able to have a good listen to this Mahler 5th by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Thomas Sondergard, their new Principal Conductor.

I was impressed. In fact I listened not knowing (or rather, not remembering) which orchestra it was... and I thought the playing was top drawer, great precision and ensemble most of the time, in what what a brisk but well-conceived performance imo. The 'Adagietto' left me a bit cold, but the stormy and exultant music was done with terrific aplomb.

I found myself thinking that way the performers brought off the intricate texture, with individual lines coming out clearly but knitted so well with the whole, and coping brilliantly with the ebb and flow, must be something Mahler could only have dreamt of. The orchestra seemed completely on top of the music, taking risks and bringing it off.. I can't imagine that orchestras when Mahler was around could have got close to that.

Exciting stuff.

Anyone else hear it?

[jayne lee wilson]

Thankyou for posting this Cal! Rather poorly this week, I didn't know if I'd take the lengthy concerts on.

Broadly in agreement - Sondergaard built the symphony well, paced it perfectly, didn't let it all go in the funeral march but made sure the peak in the second movement was both structurally prominent and brilliant. The scherzo was the highlight for me - wonderful wind solos and outstandingly clear and powerful obbligato horn! Lovely nature-sounds too, just after the horn's first enunciation - the animals listening nervously in the undergrowth, as in No.3 after the flugelhorn. The adagietto was just gorgeous - tender, lovely playing, not over-romantic, neither too fast nor slow. I could have done with a little more grip and tightness of ensemble in the finale, it was left to itself a touch, but the final blaze was splendid (it often isn't - quite...).

Overall a touch lacking in sheer grip & drama (not that I was asking for a 1947 vintage Walter, Mahler 5 does take a more relaxed approach well) - but so often, I found myself lost in the beauty and blend of texture, and those lovely solos... and those Big Moments were really driven home.

Enjoyed Hugh Watkins' Violin Concerto without finding it terribly "distinctive" on a first hearing. Sound from Cardiff on HDs was superb as ever, neutral balance, spacious, wide-ranging.

(I would usually have had more to say about the CBSO/Nelsons Beethoven 8/9 on Thursday (27/06), a wonderful concert from Symphony Hall! A (sometimes slightly too) relaxed 8th, but a towering, magnificent 9th!** That concert was a Heilige Dankgesang for me having spent most of Thursday in bed - I got to the interval thinking, oh, the 9th's just too much tonight - but once it started...! Drained but happy.). But again, one can only marvel at the consistent quality of these HD relays, and remember that, Europe-wide, Radio 3 seems now unique in offering 320kbps AAC, that Rolls-Royce of lossy codecs.

Shame there isn't much live orchestral next week, but I might have another listen to part 3 of this Mahler 5 again...

(**Did members avoid this CBSO LvB 9th (or commenting on it) because they didn't want to start "That Argument" again...? It's a bit like "The Scottish Play" or "don't mention the war"....)

[salymap]

Thanks Cali and Jayne for reminding me of the MAHLER 5 yesterday.

I was seduced by the tennis and then catching up on a new TV programme on Faberge, but hope to listen to the Mahler later today.

Yes,mention of Beetn 9 always makes me think of Mario of Malta, hope he's ok.

[Petrushka]

Did members avoid this CBSO LvB 9th (or commenting on it) because they didn't want to start "That Argument" again...? It's a bit like "The Scottish Play" or "don't mention the war"....

I listened to this and was waiting for a thread to appear but wary of starting one myself as tired of the tedious arguments concerning the finale. Anyway, great performance proving that Nelsons is one of the finest conductors around today and wonder if the BPO have missed the bus in appointing him as Rattle's successor.

Didn't catch the Mahler 5, have loads of outings of it on CD and plenty of CD catch up to do.

[Hornspieler]

I listened to this and was waiting for a thread to appear but wary of starting one myself as tired of the tedious arguments concerning the finale. Anyway, great performance proving that Nelsons is one of the finest conductors around today and wonder if the BPO have missed the bus in appointing him as Rattle's successor.

Didn't catch the Mahler 5, have loads of outings of it on CD and plenty of CD catch up to do.

It really is worth making the effort, Pet. An inspired performance of Mahler 5. Not perfect, but some very good playing and the atmosphere very nicely created throughout.

HS

[Nick Armstrong]

It really is worth making the effort, Pet. An inspired performance of Mahler 5. Not perfect, but some very good playing and the atmosphere very nicely created throughout.

HS

On relistening, I think the performance of the second movement in particular is absolutely brilliant

[BBMmk2]

I will catch this on iplayer, which seems to be what I do these days! Ah well but at least i get to9 hear the performance which sounds reeally good to me, judging from Cali's and JLW's posts!