This 1972 Mahler First, the second of Bernard Haitink’s two studio recordings with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, features more insightful conducting and more characterful playing, albeit at slightly slower tempos, than his 1962 version (available as part of Philips’ complete symphony set). This is primarily a pastoral reading: the first movement resembles a leisurely walk in the woods, taking time to notice all the sights and sounds (vividly captured by the orchestra). The cello soloist in the third movement plays perfectly in tune (which is not always the case, nor necessarily what the composer intended; a little intentional sleaze can be a good thing) and Hatink generates plenty of sonic energy in the finale. The Concertgebouw has made consistently fine recordings of this symphony (with Haitink, Bernstein, and Chailly), and this budget-priced Eloquence disc offers a great way to hear the orchestra do its Mahler thing. The sound is spacious, warm, and clear, lacking only in the deep bass.
