Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 5
Riccardo Chailly
Gewandhaus-Orchester
Accentus Music
Blu-Ray: ACC 10284
(Also available as DVD: ACC 20284)
This Blu-Ray disc is the latest in a projected complete Blu-Ray/DVD
cycle of Mahler symphonies by the Gewandhaus conducted by their current musical
director Riccardo Chailly. Symphonies No. 2, 4, 6, and 8 have already been released. This will be Chailly’s second Mahler cycle. Decca
released the first with the Concertgebouw Amsterdam on CD in 2005.
As Chailly stresses in the very worthwhile interview
included as a bonus feature, both the Concertgebouw and the Gewandhaus have
strong historical links with Mahler through William Mengelberg and Bruno Walter
respectively. For this performance Chailly steeped himself in Mengelberg’s
annotated score.
Chailly sets himself against the trend for decelerated tempi
in Mahler conducting, which he sees as self-indulgence that obscures the formal
structure. His approach is classical in inspiration. He underplays Mahler’s
ironical moments and resists the temptation to sentimental wallowing in the
Adagietto. The performance gives an overwhelming impression of energy and
movement. Interestingly, and perhaps an illustration of how much Mahler
conducting has changed (since this performance still sounds brisk), he remains
much slower than Mengelberg’s famous 1926 recording of the Adagietto, taking
8’39” to Mengelberg’s 7’04”.
In the score Mahler divides the five movements of the 5th
Symphony into three parts – the first two and last two movements each form a
block, separated by the middle part which is composed simply of the
scherzo. Chailly takes his organization
very much to heart (and structures his interview around it). On his interpretation
the scherzo clearly comes across as the symphony’s center of gravity. There is
no gap between the first and second movements. The transition is very effective
and highlights the continuity in Part I – as he puts it in the interview, the
second movement is an attack on the first movement’s funeral march.
There is an equally striking transition from the fourth
movement to the finale, reflecting how well integrated the Adagietto is into
the overall structure of the symphony. The finale has great power, momentum,
and humor. It is Mahler at his sunniest – with Chailly identifying the last two
bars as homage to Offenbach.
This is a very fine performance with excellent Blu-Ray sound
and unobtrusive videography. I
recommend it very highly and look forward to the rest of the cycle.
