At last, Reiner’s Mahler 4th finally appears in RCA’s Living Stereo series, and just in time too, if rumors of the company’s classical corporate meltdown are to be believed. This is a very fine performance, offering extraordinary (if perhaps somewhat generalized) sophistication and virtuosity, not to mention transparency (has the opening movement’s development section and first big climax ever come over so clearly?) Sure, the second movement lacks a little atmospheric creepiness and sardonic humor, but it’s played to the nines. And yes, the third movement could do with a bit more warmth and a slightly slower tempo, but those strings do know how to sing, and better a little edginess than a musical snooze. Finally, Lisa Della Casa isn’t in great voice, and her pronunciation sometimes sounds very strange. But these are all tiny quibbles. Of all the performances of this symphony by non-Mahler specialists, I’ve always found Reiner’s to be one of the best in terms of excitement and sheer listening pleasure, far preferable to Szell’s hyper-controlled and rather mechanical version (let alone Solti’s with this same orchestra), and RCA’s latest remastering has done wonders in keeping the orchestral timbres vivid and true. Welcome back, Fritz.
