Jonathan Nott turns in a shapely, poised, somewhat cool account of the Fourth Symphony. Flowing tempos and a fine soprano soloist in the finale (fresh-voiced and innocent, as Mahler demands) make for consistently pleasant listening, but some might discern a certain overall want of tension. Don’t get me wrong, the performance isn’t devoid of personality; it’s just that the moments where Nott decides to make interpretive points, such as the exaggerated gear-shifts in the first movement’s third subject, or the positively cataclysmic climax of the Adagio, tend to stick out more than they ought to because other characteristic opportunities for Mahlerian color are underplayed. I’m thinking, for example, of the big solo for four unison flutes at the start of the first movement’s development section, or the not quite whiney enough solo violin playing in the scherzo. Still, there’s no denying the high level of interpretive and technical achievement on display here, captured in very warm and natural sonics in both stereo and SACD multichannel formats. Mahler collectors will certainly find something to enjoy here.
