New and recent Mahler recordings

[richardfinegold]

I'm surprised you say that about the finale.
For me it was always all about the final climax - the build-up should be all but unbearably tense, but then Mahler teases us with softer interludes, "not yet...not yet.." - but the music mustn't lose too much momentum.
Then, if the great, trumpeting peak isn't utterly overwhelming, as brazenly brassy as possible, a given performance always seems, indeed, anticlimactic(***). That last climax has to be bigger and more brilliant than its 2nd movement counterpart, which in turn mustn't be too powerful; a tricky one to get right across 70 minutes or so.

I don't listen to Mahler much just now, but I always loved that sheer momentum and thematic inventiveness of the last movement, which really has to drive along to make its distinctive, differential effect after all the sonic and emotional adventures (so often changing direction, so often becalmed) of the previous 4.
The first finale theme which emerges, pushing the music on gently, after the horn and wind solos, has to generate considerable energy when it returns with the full string complement or it's usually fatal for the symphony's impact; which should be physically as thrilling as any. It is a brilliantly symphonic movement too, wonderfully inventive with its 2 main themes and a whole family of energy-injecting rhythmical figures, often on brass; not to mention the "love" theme from the Adagietto itself, so wittily transformed, first light and lyrical, then urgent...

And what do you do at the very end? Go manically crazy as you race for the line, as it were shouting and laughing, or something more controlled (hopefully, only a little more...)...

Intrigued by the appearance of the Roth, I just risked the finale via Qobuz.....well, this one seems to get it very right indeed, balanced in sound and clear in musical argument, not cutting-edge brazen, but nicely buoyant, building power and impetus cleverly, with terrific weight and dynamics at the very end. Excellent. Not sure I'm ready to hear the whole thing again, just yet though.

(***)
Mind you, if you listen to Mahler as often as I do to Bruckner, you might want to hear more "revisionist" approaches more often...and be less dependent on the final impact...

I think that you probably would have enjoyed Honeck’s treatment of V, I just can’t find the words to do it justice. Personally I am usually emotionally rung out by the time V comes that it just sounds like icing on the cake. It’s different on recordings where one can take a break, and also I inevitably am listening more intently during a Concert.
I like your description of V. Some of the recordings in my collection seem to have Conductors that are unsure of how to proceed in this movement and so , as with the final moment of 7, I I don’t have a clear vision of how it should go

[Petrushka]

Very grateful for the Solti Tonhalle review, HD.

Sounds well worth seeking out.

I hadn't seen your original question but do have the Solti/Tonhalle (as well as both Chicago recordings) and would go long with HD's view. I heard Solti perform the 5th with the LSO in 1991 (I think).

[mahlerei]

About to listen to this new Mahler 9th from Daniel Harding and the Swedish Radio Symphony (UK release 9/2):

https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/products/8401314--mahler-symphony-no-9

[Alison]

About to listen to this new Mahler 9th from Daniel Harding and the Swedish Radio Symphony (UK release 9/2):

https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/cl...-symphony-no-9

Could be anything that release! Do tell us all in due course.

[DublinJimbo]

I've been very impressed by Adam Fischer's Mahler with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker. I listened to number 4 first and was struck by the freshness of his approach and the many times I found myself thinking "that's different" (in a good way). Numbers 1 and 7 reinforced my good opinion. I look forward to the rest of the series.

[mahlerei]

By way of general information I notice that Manfred Honeck's Mahler Symphony No. 5 (c/w Barber Adagio) with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Reference Recordings has won a 2018 Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance.

Erm, no. It's the Shostakovich 5th. I reviewed Honeck's PSO M5 on Exton several years back.

Having also reviewed the new Honeck, I'm not at all sure why it has been so well received...

[mahlerei]

I've been very impressed by Adam Fischer's Mahler with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker. I listened to number 4 first and was struck by the freshness of his approach and the many times I found myself thinking "that's different" (in a good way). Numbers 1 and 7 reinforced my good opinion. I look forward to the rest of the series.

In full agreement re A. Fischer's M4, although I felt his M1 was far less successful. Yet to hear his M7.

As for T. Fischer's Mahler, the best I can say is that it's a work in progress (Nos. 1 & 8 recorded thus far).

[Stanfordian]

Erm, no. It's the Shostakovich 5th. I reviewed Honeck's PSO M5 on Exton several years back.

Having also reviewed the new Honeck, I'm not at all sure why it has been so well received...

Hiya Mahlerei,

The Shostakovich, of course it is! Apologies. I've now deleted my original post.

[mahlerei]

Stan

no problem, I do it all the time :)

[mahlerei]

Could be anything that release! Do tell us all in due course.

Hi Ali

Need to live with this one for a while. The Swedish RSO sound like a large chamber ensemble at times, and that makes for startling detail/transparency. But on first hearing Harding's shaping/phrasing/pacing all seem rather perverse. Way too much of him and not enough of the composer. I may feel differently later, though somehow I doubt it.

[Barbirollians]

Not all that new but finally heard the very passionate Mahler 5 from Barshai and the Germsn youth orchestra - a terrific performance and love that Walteresque brisk Adagietto.

[mahlerei]

Not all that new but finally heard the very passionate Mahler 5 from Barshai and the Germsn youth orchestra - a terrific performance and love that Walteresque brisk Adagietto.

Many thanks. Must seek that out.

[mahlerei]

As for the Harding M9 mentioned up thread, it doesn't improve on subsequent hearing. Exquisite but empty. Caveat emptor.

[Alison]

As for the Harding M9 mentioned up thread, it doesn't improve on subsequent hearing. Exquisite but empty. Caveat emptor.

Horrible cover as well.

[Barbirollians]

Many thanks. Must seek that out.

This one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Deut...hler+5+barshai -

Described as an internet sensation in 2001 and by RO in Gramophone (in a very positive review)as a Mahler 5 every Mahlerian should hear .