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Site review by Polly Nomial November 7, 2008
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
This is a reading that I find hard to match with the glowing reviews accorded to it.
The playing in the main is good but far from that of a front rank, world class orchestra especially one steeped in a tradition of performing Mahler. For one thing, the brass above a forte becomes rather blaring than piercing to this listeners ears and becomes quite uncomfortable on repeated listening. The main issue is one of Tilson-Thomas' conducting - quite why he feels it necessary to rush through the (what should be to these ears) terrifying restatement of the opening motif at around 8 minutes and obviate any feeling of panic is not apparent. Nor are the many contrary expansions of ritardando's to the almost perversely turgid. Both the rushing and the slowing have, for this listener at least, ruined any sense of a build up of momentum by continually pulling the underlying tempo around by such a large extent that it breaks rather than bends.
The engineering is very good for a live performance although a far greater amount of audience noise mid-music intrudes than on the comparable Mahler: Symphony No. 1 - Jansons (until the Dutch audience erupts with acclamation after the final orchestral hammer blows).
As other reviews illustrate though, this approach finds its admirers and devotees - it is clear that Mahler divides performers and listeners as almost no other composer, so do listen before purchasing.
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Copyright © 2008 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
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Site review by akiralx October 14, 2004
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Performance: Sonics (S/MC): / |
Interpretatively this is a superb Mahler 1, alongside Bernstein's and Abbado's DG recordings and many others.
One tiny caveat is that compared to the other MTT Mahler SACDs I have heard in surround sound (Nos 4 and 6), this one does feature rather too much ambient sound from the rear speakers - and I am not the only reviewer to have commented on this. Such a slight imbalance does not afflict the superb Fourth on SACD, which is truly state of the art in terms of sound.
If you just listen in stereo, then buy with 100% confidence, as this is a highly involving performance in superb sound.
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Copyright © 2004 Alex Leach and SA-CD.net
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Review by Dr. O August 4, 2005 (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
Mahler paints his symphonies upon a vast canvas, and Maestro Thomas is quite adept at presenting their richness with all of the colorful nuances contained therein. Listening to Mahler is like perceiving a huge mosaic of ideas and deeply human feelings. It is like reading Tolstoy - not Hemingway!
The sound in this release is astounding for its brilliance and clarity. Staging and a real sense of depth are profoundly evident. The engineering is first-rate!
What I most like about this recording is MTT's ability to present each and every portion of Mahler's score as it's own delicious morsel, while not at all losing a sense of the whole. Not an easy thing to do, but he accomplishes this with great success. The tempos are engaging and the nuancing of the various orchestral forces is just right!
I "must have" for Mahler lovers, and two thumbs up to MTT and the SFS for this truly memorable performance!
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