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Benjamin Zander follows his outstanding live recording of Mahler’s 9th with an even more impressive version of the 5th, made in the studio and thus yielding even more lifelike sound and orchestral polish. The opening funeral march movement is especially notable for the outstanding trumpet soloist, neatly judged tempos, and natural-sounding rubato. Zander’s pacing of the Scherzo follows Mahler’s instructions–”not too fast”–obtaining a nice rhythmic lift from his playe… More >>
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 – Benjamin Zander / Philharmonia Orchestra
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Very disappointed, but felt it was my own fault. I expected the lovely music from “Death in Venice”, but all I found was one very dirgy side, and a ridiculous side which would be more suited to people studying music as a career. For me not a good choice, but so be it.
Rating: 2 / 5
wonderful piece of music. Not as gloomy as many Mahler Symphonies. This is a very satisfactoy recording.
Rating: 5 / 5
An absolutely crisp and clear interpretation AND recording of Mahler 5th. I am hearing it in my AKG headphones and my goodness, the sound quality is just beautiful. I can feel the absolute pin-drop silence in the background studio and cannot discern any hiss in the background, clearly showing the low noise due to the direct-stream-digital technology. The quality of overall production of the CD matches the quality of the other Telarc label I have with Zander – Mahler’s 1st.
The other recording I have of THE 5 is that of Karajan’s. While I like that a lot, this much more modern recording of Zander’s brings out each instrument with clarity, of course coupled with exceptional performances and conducting. Somehow I always feel I hear more instruments with Zander’s conducting. The texture intended by the composer just comes out so clearly.
Bravo Maestro Zander and Philharmonia ! You make me proud to be a Mahler fan.
Rating: 5 / 5
This recording earns my highest recommendation. The sound quality and performance are both exemplary; moreover, what makes this release indispensable is the bonus disk, a 78-minute lecture (illustrated with many musical examples) on Mahler that was recorded by conductor Benjamin Zander. If you are a long-time Mahlerian, then, you will find this release fascinating; if you have never really had much use for Mahler’s music, perhaps this release will alter your perspective. I recommend it with unbridled, passionate enthusiasm.
Rating: 5 / 5
Benjamin Zander with the Philharmonia Orchestra here deliver one of the most clear-sighted, freshly inspired performances of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony ever recorded.
Trying to make sure that every change of tempo, every melodic strand, every instrument group (or solo) is clearly audible within the complex contrapuntal textures of this mammoth symphony, as is done here, could lead to a loose and uninvolved affair, but Zander’s highly intelligent vision and firm grasp of the overall structure (of both the individual movements and the symphony as a whole), combined with truly exquisite rubato and lovely legato phrasing, prevents this, making for a feeling of sustained momentum and cohesion that is quite riveting (comparable to Bruno Walter’s great recording of 1947: if only that recording could have been in digital stereo!). At the same time Benjamin Zander’s approach conveys a deep understanding of all the meanings behind the different melodic strands and notes (for as far as any ‘meanings’ can be fixed) and how they should interact, so that when the instruments – solowise or as a group – speak (amongst each other, or just by themselves), they do so with a deep sincerity and conviction. Zander convincingly conveys to us the idea of this symphony being a giant, organic weave.
It is Zander’s explicit view (as he says in his insightful but not to be overrated discussion on the bonus CD) that the orchestra in this symphony should in the first place be (like) a group of very well playing s o l o i s t s. And the conductor should then be there to lead those fine soloists along. (As Mahler said: the conductor is just a necessary evil.) And Zander succeeds magnificently! The orchestra is cleanly but not too closely recorded, allowing the sound to widely expand in climaxes, and at the same time enhancing ‘atmosphere’ in pianissimos, during which Benjamin Zander’s conducting (and of course the hushed intensity of the orchestral playing!) is often spellbinding. The Philharmonia Orchestra under Benjamin Zander, to my idea, really reach the ultimate in Mahler, from the greatest outbursts of Angst or joy, through the music of hushed tenderness and love, to those passages of despair in which the music seems to be ‘yelling in pianissimo’. (Take also his superb Mahler 9 on the same label.)
The end result is a transparent, cohesive performance of sustained momentum, characterized by wonderfully natural rubato and songful legato phrasing (the Adagietto has never sounded so much like a song without words!), but without too much (emotional) excess. Pure, vintage Mahler, which can, I think, be regarded as a benchmark for all other recordings. I love it. The only thing I keep expecting but which never follows after each hearing of this CD is the roaring applause
Rating: 5 / 5