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Date: | Wed, 8 Dec 1999 20:55:03 +0100 |
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Embarking on a tricky subject for some on this list: opinions on Mahler
recordings....
I recently purchased the Philips CD box which collects Bernard Haitink's
Christmas performances starting in the late seventies and ending in the
eighties of nearly all Mahler symphonies.
Mind you, these are REALLY live recorded (I mean in one take). The result
is stunning. Great playing and 10,000 Volts.
Anyone familiar with Haitink's studio recordings (first with the
Concertgebouworkest and more recent the Berliner Philharmoniker) will
recall his readings as "middle of the road" in the good sense of the words.
No extravaganza, just superb playing, clarity, and just about the right
tempi. The ideal set to live with and not be spoiled for others.
Now these live recordings are totally different cup of tea. Forget
all Haitink Mahler recordings for a moment. One can sense the enormous
excitement that was present each year on Christmas Day in Amsterdam. 80 to
100 million people over Europe watched these performances yearly, and it's
perfectly clear why: Haitink live turns out to be alltogether different.
Taking risks, following the music whereever it takes him. I don't hesitate
to put these performances right on the top.
Some details:
First symphony: the beginning of part iV: sheer horror.
Second symphony: superb singing by Jard van Nes. Tremendous sense of
occassion.
Third symphony: THE revelation. I've never heard the first movement quite
as convincing, even not by Horenstein and the likes. And the last movement
is just heaven: what great shaping!
Fourth symphony: rather a let down (Maria Ewing not in her best form).
Fifth symphony: not my favourite symphony, I'll let others comment on it.
Seventh symphony: Haitink's showpiece. No comments necessary.
Ninth symphony: the best in the box. This was a very emotional moment:
Haitink's farewell concert as chief conductor of the Concertgebouworkest.
Chilling, inevitable, very moving. Bernstein swept us of our feet with his
ninth just a little before then, but Haitink even surpassed that. And the
wonder of the last movement: if you time it, it's shorter than many other
readings, but still: what breath....
I'm getting very lyrical, I suppose. But anybody with a heart for Mahler
MUST hear these. If I remember well, these occassions were also yearly
broadcasted on the BBC. To satisfy myself that my Dutch heart isn't
carrying me away, I'd appreciate any comments of especially our British
friends.
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