Just what we’ve been waiting for! Another Mahler cycle! Yay! Or rather, Oy! Hearing this perfectly decent reading of the Seventh prompts several thoughts. No, it’s not “necessary”, but I can’t help but acknowledge the high quality of even the lesser-known German orchestras, the idiomatic response of so many conductors–in short, the way this music, even the odd Seventh, has become so integral to our musical experience. Who’d have thunk it?
Adam Fischer leads a completely convincing interpretation of the symphony. The truculent first movement flows with unusual coherence; the two Nachtmusiks are perfectly paced, the creepy scherzo has a nicely slithery transparency of texture, and the finale rises to an aptly raucous final climax. It’s a difficult performance to criticize, other than to say that the playing, while very good, lacks a certain bravura that the best orchestras bring to the work, and the sonics are seriously deficient in bass.
In short, I can’t think of a compelling reason why you should own this, but you’d probably enjoy it if you did.
