Search - Gustav Mahler, Dimitri Mitropoulos, New York Philharmonic :: Mahler: Symphony No. 1

Flammiferous performance!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 05/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Soon afterwards Mahler entitled the work Titan, after Jean Paul's novel- a curious contradiction, matched by another: he actually detested all programs and eventually withdrew those of his first music was about something. He once said: "As long as my experience can be summed in words, I write no music about it; my need to express to myself musically - symphonically- begins where things are no longer separated by time and space."



That is the clue the inner psychological world.The awakening of nature of early dawn and his own youthful experience, the Bohemian village, hearing bugles echoing from the nearby barracks and cuckoos calling, with all the mwonder and mystery these sounds evoked.



Dimitri Mitropolus launched this work at November 4th 1940 with the Minneapolis Orchestra, but I think that version, not only is played with dry mood, but the tempos are extremely fast to my taste.



This superb and incandescent performance is reluctant and radiant. The Mahlerian exuberance has been recorded with such precision and contundence like this time.



The New York Philharmonic had a major rapport with this admirable conductor than the Vienna did it, for instance. The members of this superb orchestra knew about directors and the intriguing and wisdom indications given by Mitropolus obviously can be verified, listening it. The entire work is played with sideral commitment and believe me, this performance may be one the most succesful recordings of this Symphony you have ever heard.



Pitifully, nowadays the inspired accuracy including the emotional and required approach that must be given at the Finale is hard to find actually. And I like to remind you a clever reflection stated by Bruno Walter who said: "This last movement should be played emotionally and far beyond the symphonic structure of the work by itself."



May be you have more than ten different versions of this work, but what can you loose risking with that colossal and extremely well conceived approach given the resonance and undeniable talent of this Greek master?



Go for this, you will always be rewarded.



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