[Critique] “Symphony No. 9” by Mahler, Simon Rattle

Here is the third version of the Ninth by Mahler under the direction of Simon Rattle. His integral EMI included a 1993 concert with the Vienna Philharmonic, which sounded a bit overpowering and bloated in the bass. He had redone it in Berlin in 2007, an interpretation of a lot of build, logical and intelligent, but underlined in broad strokes, as if to show the brilliance of the orchestra. Here with his new Bavarian set, there is more detachment. The English conductor has nothing to demonstrate, and as a result, the music flows more, with a kind of new sincerity, more human and therefore more touching. This flexibility is accompanied by a greater sound fade, which may surprise those who expect very square central movements. But the beauty of the colors of the orchestra (the most beautiful in the world!) is such that this interpretation surpasses the Berliner one and, by its coherence and its expressive nature, ranks among the great Ninths by Mahler: Karajan, Giulini, Bernstein, Haitink.

Click here for an excerpt.

Gustav Mahler

★★★★ 1/2

Classic

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle, BR Klassik 900 205

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