Search - London Symphony Orchestra, Gergiev :: Mahler: Symphony No. 7 [Hybrid SACD]

Another rather disappointing instalment in Gergiev's Mahler

MartinP | Nijmegen, The Netherlands | 08/15/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"After a moderately disappointing Sixth, I nonetheless couldn't restrain my curiosity regarding the Gergiev LSO Seventh. This symphony remains one of my favorites among the Mahlers, and Gergiev's London cycle is a high profile affair - add to that the LSO pricing and I was done for. And again I am moderately disappointed; a little more so than with the Sixth. Throughout this recording I was bothered by the lack of core in the sound, too little bite and contrast, a sense of dilution, as if the score has been scaled down and is played by a chamber orchestra seated far away from the listener. Culmination points often hardly register in the general sameness of it all. Things are not helped by Gergiev's at times ridiculously rushed tempos. The Finale's Tempo II is way too fast when it occurs the first time, and worse, Gergiev then fails to maintain that pulse on later recurrences, so that inner tempo relations in the piece are uprooted. He merely seems intent on making a virtuoso effect. The first movement suffers from similar drawbacks, and contains some unsettling moments where synchronicity falters. The awkward tenseness of the main theme is lost on this conductor (as is the instruction `grosser Ton' on the trombone player when the Adagio reprise arrives).



Like in the Sixth, Gergiev is at his best in the quieter moments. He has a keen sense of the Scherzo's eerie atmosphere, the one movement where for once (and unlike many of his colleagues) he doesn't rush. I rather liked his brisk pace in the Andante amoroso, that often outstays its welcome in readings that make too heavy weather of it. The first `night music' is rather more middle of the road and somewhat colorless. Which is not to say that the playing of the LSO is in any way below par; as far as this recording allows one to judge it, it seems generally excellent, with occasional sensitive personal touches, especially in the woodwinds.



The stereo sound on this disc ( I do not own SACD equipment) is airless and devoid of ambience as usual from this source; bone dry, yet largely without the expected benefit of clearer detail. In all, I can think of few reasons for anyone to buy this issue when so many obviously superior alternatives are available."

Fresh sounding Song of the Night

Rodney W. Helt | Verona. WI USA | 08/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After listening to Gergiev's earlier installments of his ongoing Mahler cycle, I had some negative trepidations. I was to be pleasantly surprised. I had found his earlier Mahler 6th to be undernourished and distantly recorded. The sound stage for this recording is still recessed from the listeners perspective, but a little tweaking of the volume control revealed a wonderfully detailed, fresh and spaciously clear stereo image. His somewhat ascerbic view of the score, for me, works very fine for this symphony. The only complaint that I would have is the in-your- face prominence of the cymbols! Minor indeed. So I greatly enjoyed this release.

Other recordings that I would recommend for the thoughtful listeners enjoyment is any of Abaddo's renditions, (of course) Bernstein's, and Geilen. For the historically inclined, I suppose Scherchen or Horenstein."

Lacking in detail

EER | 10/29/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I am very fond of the musical works of Mahler. I normally purchase Telarc recordings, but was unable to find all the symphonies with the Telarc recording label. I took my chance on this LSO recording. Anyone want to by my copy cheap? It seemed as if it was recorded live and the mic was in the middle to back row of a huge out door auditorium. The detail was lacking severely. The dynamics were just not there. I was expecting strong bass and bright horns, but it was very dull. More like a cassette tape recording than an SACD. I'd give it zero stars if I could."