Paavo Järvi does an excellent job in both the first movement and Adagio, particularly the former, where his transitions and tempo adjustments have a naturalness that’s very impressive. The orchestra also plays very well, but the tendency of the brass to produce an overly blended sonority in the “cosmic noise” episodes of the Adagio points to this performance’s major problem, one for which Järvi must take full responsibility. In the scherzo, the horns, trombones, and trumpets (in that order) blast out the rhythmic main theme in successive entries, layer by layer. For reasons that make no sense at all, Järvi has these played in muffled fashion, resulting in a dull, muddy sonority totally at odds with the spirit of the piece. It’s all the more puzzling when you consider how well he conducts the rest of the symphony, and it greatly diminishes what otherwise is a very compelling interpretation. So if you don’t particularly care about the scherzo, by all means, try this performance. Otherwise, you’d be well advised to pass.
