Composer: Gustav Mahler
Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Catalogue: HMM902366
Release: 2018
Size: 713 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Symphony No. 5
01. 1. Trauermarsch. In gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt
02. 2. Stürmisch bewegt. Mit größter Vehemenz
03. 3. Scherzo. Kräftig, nicht zu schnell
04. 4. Adagietto. Sehr langsam
05. 5. Rondo-Finale. Allegro – Allegro giocoso. Frisch
Daniel Harding’s second release in his Mahler cycle for Harmonia Mundi offers a fairly straightforward and carefully considered performance of the Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor, one of the composer’s most popular works and seemingly an acid test for modern conductors. For the most part, Harding and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra observe conventional tempos and give the symphony a coherent reading that avoids excesses, while maintaining a steady pacing that reveals much of the intricate inner counterpoint, as opposed to rushing through for the sake of excitement and drama. To listeners who prefer a more neurotic take, Harding is likely to seem cool, clinical, and detached, because he doesn’t exaggerate Mahler’s expressions by playing up the tragedy of the Trauermarsch or dragging out the Adagietto to absurd lengths. To appreciate Harding’s measured approach, a good movement to sample is the Scherzo, which is played somewhat deliberately, though with danceable tempos and ample room for the players to breathe. Harmonia Mundi’s recording is clear and finely detailed, which contributes to Harding’s lucid interpretation, and the spaciousness of the sound lets Mahler’s chamber-like passages shine through with warmth and presence.