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Sony Masterworks

Classic Library - Mahler: Symphony No 4 / Levine, Et Al

$11.98

Details

Composer
MAHLER, GUSTAV
Artist
Levine, Cso
Format
CD
Label
Sony Masterworks
Released
Apr 20, 2004
Catalog #
82876594132
UPC
828765941327

About



MAHLER Symphony No. 4 • James Levine, cond; Judith Blegen (sop); Chicago SO • RCA 59413 (57:58)


Gustav Mahler’s symphonies can work with so many different approaches (unlike the symphonies of most composers) that to pick any one recording of any of the symphonies and call it a “classic” is inviting argument and trouble, yet this specific recording of this particular symphony certainly qualifies in my book. Made in 1976, it has withstood not only the challenges of virtually every recording that came after it but has superceded most of its predecessors.


It took me several decades to realize that James Levine took his inspiration for this performance from the very odd recording of this symphony by Willem Mengelberg and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Mengelberg slows down certain passages, especially in the first movement, so much that the motor rhythm practically stops, and this has been heavily criticized over the years, but he also imbued the music with an almost demonic intensity that took it away from the placid overview of the symphony as “a child’s view of heaven” and placed it into another realm. Levine borrowed the intense aspects of Mengelberg’s vision, but played the symphony in tempos much closer to those prescribed by Mahler, with the result being this classic of the phonograph.


Judith Blegen, though a fine and very musical soprano, does not have the finest voice for this music (that honor goes to Kathleen Battle, in her CBS recording with Lorin Maazel), yet she is quite good, and the overall impact of this recording is such that all subsequent interpretations are compared to it. That, in itself, qualifies this recording as Hall of Fame material.


FANFARE: Lynn René Bayley

Tracklist 4 tracks

  1. 1 I. Bedachtig, nicht eilen 16:39
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Bedachtig, nicht eilen
    Duration
    16:39
    Composer
    Gustav Mahler
    Performer
    Judith Blegen
    Ensemble
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Levine
  2. 2 II. In gemächlicher Bewegung, ohne Hast 09:41
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. In gemächlicher Bewegung, ohne Hast
    Duration
    09:41
    Composer
    Gustav Mahler
    Performer
    Judith Blegen
    Ensemble
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Levine
  3. 3 III. Ruhevoll, poco adagio 22:02
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Ruhevoll, poco adagio
    Duration
    22:02
    Composer
    Gustav Mahler
    Performer
    Judith Blegen
    Ensemble
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Levine
  4. 4 IV. Sehr behaglich 09:15
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Sehr behaglich
    Duration
    09:15
    Composer
    Gustav Mahler
    Performer
    Judith Blegen
    Ensemble
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Levine