Mahler: Symphony No. 4; Songs of a Wayfarer
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Composer: Gustav MahlerConductor: Yoel Levi
Performer: Frederica Von Stade
Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1999-06-22
Music Label: Telarc
Soundtracks:
- I. Bedachtig. Nicht Eilen
- II. In Gemachlicher Bewegung. Ohne hast
- III. Ruhevoll
- IV. Sehr Behaglich
- I. 'Wenn Mein Schatz Hochzeit Macht'
- II. 'Ging Heut' Morgen Uber's Feld'
- III. 'Ich Hab' Ein Gluhend Messer'
- IV. 'Die Zwei Blauen Augen Von Meinem Schatz'
Music reviews of Mahler: Symphony No. 4; Songs of a Wayfarer
Music Review: Sheer perfection - except for Von Stade
Rating: 4 Stars
Once again a disc that demonstrates that in Mahler, little more is needed than simply do what the score says. Yoel Levi is a modest conductor in the most complimentary sense of the word. He doesn't impose a "vision" on the music (mostly a euphemism for random distortions) but delves into the depths of the score to coax from his excellent band every last hairpin crescendo, sfz accent and glissando. None of the other recordings I know of the Fourth (Haitink's first on Philips, Maazel, Bernstein (DG), Welser-Möst, Litton, Tennstedt, Chailly, Bertini) has such a precise and refined textural balance, such transparency with everything in the right place. The result is absolutely breathtaking. The piece sounds newly minted, full of fresh wonder - a moving insight into the full riches of Mahler's inspiration. Every movement benefits: the gossamer textures of the first, with marvellous presence for the excellent horns; the strange dance of death in the second, the precise execution of Mahler's dynamics lending a jeering character to the scordatura violin solo; but most of all the heavenly adagio, which literally moved me to tears. Levi and his players not only understand its contemplative beauties, but also its dark undercurrents. The plunge at bar 88 has never sounded so menacing, with violas, cellos, and basses sliding very audibly downwards one after another over an ominous low trumpet chord. A surprising touch is the subito changeover to the Andante in bar 222, a surprise most conductors postpone until the allegretto 16 bars later, but Levi's choice makes perfect sense.
Indeed, everything he does in this recording makes perfect sense - except his choice of soloist. Who is the sole reason I detract a star from my rating. I rather got the feeling that the three page profile of the singer (a larger part of the CD-booklet than is spent on the symphony), which expounds her talents in extravagant terms, is meant to hammer it home that what we hear is greatness. But Frederica von Stade has a dark, vibrato-rich voice that seems to me utterly unsuited to convey the wide-eyed innocence of the concluding song. Worse, her ponderous contribution is too loud throughout, with more then a hint of stridency in top notes. She communicates no feeling at all for the pianissimo mystery of the recurring phrase at the end of each stanza ("Sanct Peter im Himmel sieht zu"). Her throaty vowels are unlovely to put it mildly. Which all together means that this otherwise sublime Mahler 4 ends with a comedown. Which is all the more of a pity because the orchestral contribution is as marvellous here as it was in the other movements. (What a delight, in bar 159, to hear the little tumbling effect that results from the cello pizzicato quavers against the harp's triplets - again a detail brought out by Levi's perfect sense of balance). Overall this disc lands in the same frustrating category as Bernstein's Concertgebouw take: phenomenal in the instrumental movements, but with a finale that misfires. Nonetheless, as with Bernstein, the rewards of the first three movements alone are ample enough to warrant an investment in this disc.
Telarc generously provides the Wayfarer songs as a fill-up, but while Von Stade's approach may perhaps be a little less damaging here, the shortcomings mentioned are as much in evidence as they are in the symphony. The vibrato is so pronounced that it's almost a trill. Uncharacteristically, the orchestra, too, seems a bit literal and lacking in poetry. In all, hardly a first choice for the cycle, but I don't suppose anyone would buy the disc for that alone anyway.
The recorded sound, as nearly always from this source, is extremely fine.
Description of Mahler: Symphony No. 4; Songs of a Wayfarer
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