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Discussion: Mahler: Symphony No. 9 - Fischer

Posts: 36
Page: prev 1 2 3 4

Post by Wartybliggens June 18, 2015 (31 of 36)
Thanks for that article. His feeling mirror my own, though of course he expresses them on a much higher level than I could. It seems like Mahler criticism too often centers around how much the performance adheres to a certain preconceived mold - it has to be histrionic enough, etc. It reminds me of my experience with the recent Honeck Bruckner 4th, which dispensed with the habit of always trying to make Bruckner "spiritual" and ended up revealing so much. The 4th is not the 9th for Bruckner, and the same goes for Mahler.

Post by fausto K July 2, 2015 (32 of 36)
Finally got hold of a copy. Overall, it sure doesn't disappoint. The sound is certainly stupendous. But I'm not so sure of the hurried way the Finale is dispatched by Fischer. It's indicative that the clarification "sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend" for the adagio is left off in the programme notes on the back of the booklet: clearly, Fischer is anything but "holding back" in said movement. And if Chailly, say, manages 28:24, then 22:48 can't be slow, let alone "very slow" (=sehr langsam).

Post by pgmdir July 3, 2015 (33 of 36)
fausto K said:

Finally got hold of a copy. Overall, it sure doesn't disappoint. The sound is certainly stupendous. But I'm not so sure of the hurried way the Finale is dispatched by Fischer. It's indicative that the clarification "sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend" for the adagio is left off in the programme notes on the back of the booklet: clearly, Fischer is anything but "holding back" in said movement. And if Chailly, say, manages 28:24, then 22:48 can't be slow, let alone "very slow" (=sehr langsam).

I do not share any enthusiasm about Chailly's M9 (or M3). The adagio is like waiting for grass to grow. My favorite RBCD M9 is Jukka Pekka Saraste's on Profil, and his is 24:16. Fischer's is around 90 seconds shorter, but doesn't sound rushed to me. On the other hand parts of Fischer's M1, as much as I like it, seem just a tad slow.

Much more important is does the conductor make it work. A spot check of my various M9s shows some around 26, some around 24, and Boulez at 21:26. No time wasted there! By the way, I know Boulez' Mahler is commonly dismissed as unfeeling, but I have never found it so.

Fischer's M9 is I think his best Mahler since the amazing M4. I am waiting eagerly for his M7 to see if it pushes the Abbado Chicago off the top of my list.

Post by hiredfox July 6, 2015 (34 of 36)
There is a great deal to like and little to object to in this better-than-average Mahler 9 performance from the BFO which for me articulates and illuminates particularly well the usually solemn and reflective and long Adagio. With Fischer of course one is accustomed to idiosyncrasies - clearly he has a different point of view to most on almost everything - so listening to each new recording can be an exercise in nail-biting anticipation. In this case the speed of execution of all four movements might worry some traditionalists.

It didn't bother me, I liked it a lot but it is not in my view an outstanding interpretation even amongst the now extensive SACD catalogue; despite it's age Walter will still take some beating.

The recording and technical quality of performance is first class, individually and collectively as you would expect from this now legendary and near-infallible orchestra.

Post by Vaan August 12, 2015 (35 of 36)

Post by Chris August 12, 2015 (36 of 36)
Vaan said:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Aug/Mahler_sy9_CCSSA36115.htm

The reviewer manages to contradict himself basically every second sentence!
50 -50 sweet and sour ?
According to this reviewer it is both underplayed and overplayed,sometimes both at the same time it seems.
What an utterly confusing and contradictory review!
I'd say listen for yourself and make your own verdict.
Mine is maybe not quite as heavenly as Karajan's on LP.
Karajan truly was a master of flow. But a worthy Mahler 9 among a couple of others. And most certainly the best recorded Mahler 9 so far imo.
Even regarding the recording this reviewer manages to contradict himself by first lauding it as top shelf, and then blaming it for being to extreme for comfort!
I guess that like many reviewers he still only listens to the rbcd layer and/or via a boombox system.
The first review on the same site is much more balanced and closer to what I hear from this in most respects superb Mahler 9.

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