Mahler: Symphony No. 4

Reri Grist (Artist), Gustav Mahler (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Gustav Mahler
• Audio CD (March 16, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000I9GF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,620 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bernstein's early Mahler, December 25, 1999

By 

Mike Bernstein (Riverbank, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Audio CD)

This is a thrilling realization of Mahler's 4th, a work usually treated as a more refined, lyrical exception to Mahler's typical work. This is a good example of Bernstein's different approach in his first cycle for Sony (nee Columbia). It's intense, exciting, and plays up the music's inherent contrasts, unlike, say, the much admired Szell recording which opts for a lyrically refined performance, which tends to smooth out the contrasts. The remastered sound has the NY Philharmonic sounding like the virtuosic ensemble they truly were. In short, this is a wonderful example of Bernstein's historically significant first Mahler cycle, where he enthusiastically presented the composer to the listening public.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still one of the most musical Mahler Fourths., March 22, 2004

By 

Jeffrey Lee (Asheville area, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Audio CD)

Despite the different explanations regarding what Mahler is telling us, it is obvious that Bernstein presents the Fourth Symphony in very musically appealing terms. Though typically identified with a broad range of emotional expression, especially in his Mahler interpretations, he actually seems a mite less sensitive or concerned with the sometimes lurking, uneasy aspects of this symphony, (in contrast to Tennstedt or Horenstein, for example). In the opening movement, the description, "dream-like", seems to fit Bernstein's portrayal. Simultaneously, he conveys an attractive lyricism. In the second ("death fiddler") movement, he expresses ample irony, while in the third, he radiates an almost aching beauty. A standout in the fourth movement is soprano Reri Grist, whose memorable performance sounds more child-like than most other sopranos I've heard. A good number of others have sounded "too adult", and some ridiculously so....I expressed high regard for Bernstein's Mahler Second, and not so high regard for his Mahler Fifth. Here, he delivers a reading I find both engrossing and very satisfying. For a long time, this has been and continues to be one of my favorite Mahler Fourths.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime, July 18, 2000

By 

grandpiano_57 "James" (Burlington, CT USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Audio CD)

Mahler's 4th Symphony is arguably his most beloved. While a Symphony for full orchestra, it is a source of much intimate charm. This performance, recorded in 1960, sounds superb on CD. Bernstein draws out of NY Philharmonic a richly rewarding performance. Reri Grist, soprano, adds the perfect vocal to the final movement. This is a performance that is conceived with ideal tempos, dynamics and colors. I think Bernstein's overall reading of Mahler's works is exceptional, but this, in Mahler's most tuneful and optimistic Symphony, the performance seems perfectly in tune with the composers intentions. I will be playing this CD many many times. Enjoy!