Like other conductors before him (most notably Karajan), Kurt Masur plays the introduction to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 as if it were a movement all its own–a slow, sad prelude. But where Karajan maintained tension through calculated dynamic shadings, Masur is just slow and heavy, qualities he unfortunately carries over into the main allegro, making for a rather tepid first movement. The march rhythms don’t snap, while the waltzing second subject goes without a trace of lilt. Masur builds the climaxes effectively, but they frustratingly lack dramatic point.
The same goes for the Andante cantabile which, while offering a beautifully played horn solo, sounds like not much more than a cautious rehearsal. The waltzing third movement does what it should, and the finale, once past the (again) slow introduction, actually exudes a good amount of vitality. Here again, Masur fails to carry the music through the climaxes. Listen to the big wind-down just before the coda: Masur is impressive while Muti, Bernstein, Mravinsky, and Gatti are thrilling. The Orchestre National de France, which by now has become so internationalized that it retains virtually none of its former, distinctive sound, nonetheless plays handsomely throughout, with excellent brass work in the finale. The live recording sets the orchestra at a distance, which may affect the impact of the performance. No matter–there are many more involving versions of this symphony available.
