Customer Reviews

Mahler: Symphony No. 4

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a digital remake from 1984 of Solti's original Mahler Fourth with the Concertgebouw. As an interpreter of Mahler, Solti has a well-deserved reputation for being driven and unresponsive to Mahler's nuances, but that's not true here. The first movement, though a little too straightforward, allows the music to speak for itself, and with such ravishing playing form the cSO and Decca's transparent sonics, the result is very satisfying. The second movement falls seriously short of atmosphere--somebody took away the devil's fiddle and kicked him out of the room. The slow meovement proceeds at a nice forward pace and is beautifully played (better, really, than almost anyone else I've heard on CD).

Many listeners will be buying this CD for Kirit Te Kanawa's solo singing in the finale, and she doesn't disappoint. The soprano really tries to evoke childlike innocence, and of course her voice is enchanting in itself. Solti provides a fast tempo, but I like that--he avoids mannered cuteness. In all, I've heard more atmospheric and imaginative readings of the Fourth (Abbado, Bernstien, Welser-Most), but Solti's belongs in the top tier.

I can't think of anything bad to say about this disc. The energy contained in this performance is simply uplifting. Solti is not especially known for his in depth interpretations, but this one has just about everything it needs; Masterful playing, a great singer, and a conductor with the passion and fervor needed to turn out a great performance.

I remember this recording from my student days and is great to finally have it in my collection 15 years later. The 3rd movement is worth the price of the CD alone. Certainly it is Mahler slow movement writing at its best. Solti and Mahler set up the opening motif of the slow upper string melody over the pizzicato lower strings, then sit back and let it grow organically without personality getting in the way. Everything seems to progress naturally, like a water drop finding its way from the top of a mountain down to the ocean. We stay familiar with the water drop all the way down at it passes through some magnificent scenery.

Mahler reviews are funny because you have a great many partisan points of view that are driven by reasons that go well beyond the listening of the music. I listened to this symphony yesterday by Solti and the Chicago Symphony and I could not find anything but the most wonderful interpretation. Kiri Te Kanawa was sublime. The engineers were exceptional. The sound was clear, rich, perfect in every way! My small sorround sound 5.1 speakers never sounded better. Solti's approach was well thought out. The nuances were there. I would not want another performance. Challenge yourself and be honest. Forget the nonsense about Paradise and heaven or hell. Sometimes the libretos are part of the problem. This is really beautiful playing from an orchestra that was on top at the time. What a joy!!!!!!!!

Symphony No. 4, Mahler's most intimate, is essayed here in an excellent and somewhat understated performance. Kiri Te Kanawa is haunting in the Sehr behaglich.

This version ranks right up there with the very best renditions of Mahler Symphony No. 4.

This statement is quite a compliment, for the competition is very stiff. Szell/Cleveland on Sony and Bernstein/Vienna on DG are the frontrunners of this very beautiful piece.

Solti and his Chicago artists have produced a work of art full of passion and exuberant playing. Tenors Elbow is correct in stating that the Ruhevoll movement, at 20 minutes, is the supreme highlight of the performance. The other three movements are are played exceptionally well, with brilliant sound and clarity from Decca.

Recommended.

To me this CD is by far better than recordings I have by other conductors,for dynamics,sensitive phrasing, and sectional clarity. The weakness is in the speed....has it been re-recorded at a faster speed than the original recording? It is nearest I have found to the beautiful 1961 LP of Solti with the Concertgebouw.

The horribly played climax of the third movement spoiles this CD. My rating of 1 star may be a little harsh becasue the other movements are not that bad. The climax of the third movement happens to be my favorite 60 seconds of music and I was very dissapointed. Reiner and Chicago do the whole symphony much better, especially in the third movement. Unfortunately, the Reiner and Chicago version is not available