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| DG (Full price) (CD) 415 099-2GH2 (two discs, nas). Notes, texts and translations included. |
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The LP recording of Karajan's celebrated account of the Sixth Symphony had fine presence and clarity; the CD version adds to this, providing even more bite and inner clarity and removing most residual doubts there may be about unwanted sophistication in the orchestral playing. In fact, Karajan's understanding of Mahler's sound world—its links forward to Berg, Schoenberg and Webern as opposed to any retrospective links with Wagner—is very acute. Combining this with a notable long-term control of rhythm, Karajan is able to sustain not only the composer's lucidly stated tragic case but also Mahler's sophisticated exploration of materials drawn from different sound worlds and even, in the Scherzo, from different areas of the inherited musical tradition. This Scherzo, a masterly achievement here by composer, conductor, and orchestra alike, is easier to reproduce cleanly in the CD version; and the engineers have also taken the opportunity to tidy up the very end of the symphony, where the bass tuba's entry over drum and ff pizzicato basses at fig. 165 no longer betrays quite so obviously its origin as part of a separate take. The Ruckert Lieder, previously coupled with Das Lied von der Erde are a joy, memorably sung by Christa Ludwig who is eloquently supported by the Berlin wind players who are recorded with gratifying immediacy. After the symphony's bleak end, it is a great joy to turn back to these songs, written in the high summer of Mahler's creative life.
RO