Search - Mahler, Hendricks, Salonen :: Symphony 4

A Recording Weathering Time Well

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 01/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all of the Mahler 4th Symphony recordings, this one with Esa-Pekka Salonen and his Los Angeles Philharmonic remains the closest to being perfect of any of the recordings available. Strong words? Just listen to the way Salonen allows the symphony to sound as though it is playing itself: Mahler would have definitely approved. Where there are fearsome attack potentials or lyrical breathings and sighs or just sprightly childlike visions, Salonen is fully in command of the nuances and the overall scope of this work while making it seem as though he is completely relaxed.



The contrasts between the hurried approaches to a little melody and the tender abandon of the goal are apparent throughout. In some hands the 4th symphony can feel episodic, disjointed. But here the work is delivered in a grand arc that ends with the song from Des Knaben Wunderhorn lyrically sung by Barbara Hendricks.



Though this recording was made in 1992 (now 13 years ago), it still stands high even in the progressive growth of Salonen and his orchestra as one of the premiere sources of Mahler performances. It has weathered well. Grady Harp, January 2005"

Exquisite

George Grella | Brooklyn | 05/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A beautiful recording of the Mahler 4, the best I've heard [which in comparison includes Szell, Maazel, Klemperer, Gielen, Inbal, Solti w/NYPO, Watler, Bernstein w/NYPO, Horenstein]. This is as exquisitely played and recorded as Salonen's highly-regarded Mahler 3rd, but so much more idiomatic; Mahler is here!Salonen's attention to phrasing and tempo relationships sounds ideal; he does exaggerate modulations in tempo more than most, yet his choices are so judicious and musical that the effect is of hearing this played properly for the first time. I've previously praised the Rattle recording, and Salonen follows the same general guidelines, but while Rattle is satisfied to be idiosyncractic only in spots, especially the opening bars, Salonen is consistent throughtout the performance, and this is much better. He has the whole orchestra playing with a certain bit of articulation and rhythm, and it's ideal.The first movement is lively, sprightly, and still digs down intensely into the darker passages. The scherzo has Mephistophelean qualities this listener expects in the movement but has found so infrequently in performances. The slow movementis rich and gorgeous. The superb quality of the recordings tells here, as the strings both seem to float in the air and still have a fulness of sound which is perfect for the music. And finally Roberta Alexander sings the finest finale. Her pure voice is on par with Kathleen Battle's for the appropriate tonal quality, but she sings with so much more expression and humanity that there is really no comparison.This is the one shining recording of this symphony to which all others must now be compared."

A very solid fourth.

M. Cunningham | 01/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm no expert at this symphony, but I have heard several versions and this one certainly does more than stand on its own. Playing is excellent, Barbara Hendricks's singing is lovely, recorded sound is great, and although there might be more exciting or insightful performances available, Salonen really sells his interpretation. This disc, along with Salonen's versions of Mahler's Third symphony and Das Lied von der Erde makes Salonen's emerging Mahler cycle look very promising indeed."