Customer Reviews

Mahler: Symphony No. 4 / Schreker: Prelude to a Drama

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

 

 

Every Mahler symphony offers endless possibilities for emotional depth and musical imagination, so what can one say about a reading like this one of the Fourth Sym. that starts at the beginning, reaches the middle, and comes to an end? There are no remarkable events along the way. Other than being a bit brisk, and a little breathless in the finale, Gielen has nothing to say. But of course, that is what he wants to say, that Mahler, in his mind, shouldn't be seductive, ravishing, dramatic, turbulent, conflicted, ironic, faux-naive, sentimental, or volcanic.

If you agree, here's the Mahler Fourth for you. Among so-called "objective" readings (Reiner, Szell, Boulez), it's neat, cleanly played, and pleasant. The soprano in the finale, Christine Whittlesey, has the right child-like voice, although she does little to dramatize a child's view of heaven. The orchestra plays middling well, and the recorded sound from 1988 is clear and natural (a virtue common to all of Gielen's Mahler cycle).

The generous 18 min. filler, a lush but not overblown Vorspiel by Franz Schreker, is linked to Mahler by anti-Semitism. Schreker had a Jewish father, amking him fair game for being banned under the Nazis, even thogh he was lucky to die in 1934 before turning sixty. His style is almost identical to Korngold's, if less flamboyant. Gielen does well by this soothing, impresisonistic score, which could also be described as pleasant.

It's difficult to find a recording of Mahler's 4th where there isn't SOMETHING to like; it's the most accessible of his symphonies.If we start with the assumption of good sound quality and orchestral playing, there isn't much here beyond that. Try the Bernstein (SONY, not the DG)or Abbado (Berlin)for a totally different experience. If you want 'cooler' but beautiful sounding, Chailly or Maazel (VPO, Sony)are superior to this one IMHO.

The most lyrical of Mahler's symphonies is beautifully presented on this recording - no bombast, no hysterics, no messing about. What I really like about this recording is the crystal clear sound and the orchestra's complete command of the music. This is a thoroughly assured performance. Nothing is overdone for effect, nothing is rushed, and the soloist in the 4th movement is the best I've ever heard, a warm, shimmering voice. Geilen's cerebral approach to Mahler didn't cut it (in my opinion) for his 9nth (listen to Barbirolli's 9nth!), but to my ears, his grounded and yet sympathetic direction brings out all the best contained in this sublime music, it's gentleness, it's pastoral idealism and story-telling whimsy. The 4th is unique in Mahler's cycle because of it's even good-temper. There is none of the caustic sarcasm or longing despair found in his other symphonies. It's a walk in the woods on a sunny day. Geilen allows the music to speak for itself. A definitive performance!

Regarding the Mahler 4th, Michael Gielen conducts this performance, and it is as beautiful as nearly all the versions I've heard of Mahler's Fourth. Christine Whittlesey provides the kind of simple, clear, non-dramatic voice that Mahler would use if he couldn't get a good boy soprano.

Forgive me, but Schreker's music I simply cannot understand or appreciate at this stage in my development. If you can appreciate Schreker, I can only tell you that this sounds orchestrally well-done to me--it's just that I don't like it.