Search - Bruckner, Mahler, Furtwangler :: Symphony 8 / Symphony 6

Recommended despite the flaws

L. Johan Modée | Earth | 09/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This unavailable set contains performances that now are available in other incarnations. My review below concerns only the interpretation of Mahler's sixth symphony. Prospective consumers should go to amazon.co.uk in order to find the Unicorn-Kanchana incarnation of this performance, brand new and at midprice. (For Horenstein's Bruckner 8 and Mahler 9, look for the BBC Legends sets.)



Many critics hold the Stockholm live sixth to be Horenstein's weakest Mahler interpretation. The playing of the Stockholm PO is not without flaws, and the whole orchestra has been blamed for being slack.



But, as is the case with Barbirolli's Hallé Mahler recordings, even if the orchestra isn't first-rate, the interpretation - in my view - surely is. I am not a fan of Horenstein, but my first impression of this recording was a nice surprise. Actually I think it is far better than Horenstein's overrated account of the third.



In my view, then, Horenstein's conception of how to perform this symphony is second to none. And the weak playing... Well: there are differences between flaws and flaws, especially in the case of the brass department. Sometimes flaws are not real catastrophes but rather like spices, adding to the "sense of occasion" due to committed playing. A dull interpretation with stylish, perfect playing is boring, but a committed and concentrated performance never is - with or without playing flaws. (The same holds for Horenstein's live performance of the ninth, which has more serious flaws than here.)



Moreover, in many parts of this performance we do get lovely playing from the Stockholm PO. Trombones are often excellent, with a perfect bite. String playing in the andante is overall very good. And the hammerblows in the finale are excellent. Add then that Horenstein's interpretation is intense and interesting, a well-behaving audience, and a pretty good recording quality, and we have to reject the common view that this disc is not worth serious consideration. I think it deserves at least four stars. Recommended.







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