It might have been something special to hear Karajan’s Berlin Philharmonic play Mahler’s Resurrection symphony (it recorded a spectacular Ninth with him in 1982), but this is a completely different ensemble we have before us today. Precious little of its distinguishing sonic character remains, leaving it sounding like a highly virtuosic pick-up orchestra. This of course runs ruin over Mahler’s idiosyncratic, timbrally rich, highly colorful music, especially in the scherzo third movement, with its folk atmosphere and brilliant woodwind writing.
That said, the main responsibility for the performance falls at the feet of Simon Rattle, who starts with a faceless first movement that attempts to emulate Bernstein’s broad tempos, but without his intensity. So the result is just slow. Even when Rattle does tighten the screws, he gets thrown under the bus by the Berliners’ aversion to percussion (one of the few remaining characteristics from the orchestra’s “good old days”). This really kills the drama at the start of the fifth movement–what should be a terrifying crash sounds more like someone attacking the tam-tam with a wet sponge.
Later we must endure a lifeless “march of the dead” (there’s irony for you), but at least the closing pages have sufficient energy and atmosphere, even a little feeling of transcendence, thanks in part to the fine-sounding chorus (soloists Kate Royal and Magdalena Kožená also offer respectable performances). However, when it’s all over you merely feel satisfied rather than blown away by the experience as you do with Bernstein, Tennstedt, Gielen, and Slatkin, to name a few.
The recorded sound is generally very good, but, like most Berlin Philharmonic recordings, it’s weak in the bottom range. Perhaps in order to capitalize on the currency of the live performances taking place at the end of October 2010, EMI has issued this recording as download-only until February 2011, when the CD version will be available. This is perfect for people prone to impulse-buying, but now that iTunes provides 90-second previews they’ll have a chance to ponder before they purchase. The recommended recordings offer longer-term gratification.
