All politics is local: John Neschling left the São Paulo Symphony a few years ago, which is a pity because, on disc at least, it was a splendid collaboration. Neschling offers exceptional performances of these three works, and the competition is very strong, including the likes of Bernstein, Szell, Ormandy, Steinberg, and (for all three works) Levi/Atlanta on Telarc. Nobilissima Visione and the Symphonic Metamorphosis usually go well; while they don’t exactly play themselves, most recordings of them are good to excellent. These are excellent. The march finale of the Metamorphosis has real swagger, and Neschling captures the serenity of the opening of Nobilissima Visione quite beautifully, with no hint of dragging.
Getting the symphony right is another matter. The problem usually is the finale: it’s often taken too slowly, its galloping rhythm stiff and (ultimately) dull. The classic failure in this regard is Horenstein’s Unicorn recording, but Neschling passes the test with flying colors. Indeed, this finale is certainly one of the most exciting on disc. Neschling captures the decadent romanticism of the central section particularly well. There’s not a mechanical or cold measure anywhere, not even in the broken rhythms of the central “Entombment”, and the sonics are rich, warm, and thrilling, making orchestra’s opulent brass and ringing horns sound surprisingly Germanic. [6/13/2011]
