Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan – Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (1996/2024) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

GBAs time has gone by in my collecting of Mahler on cd I have often been guided by the well known music critic 'TD'. Most of the time TD proves invaluable in pointing the Mahler listener in the right direction but, on occasion, I have found myself disagreeing with him - and this is now the third time in which I must disagree. Anyone who has bothered to read through TD's guide to Mahler recordings will already be aware just how dismissive he is regarding this recording by the BPO under Karajan's baton, and it was that dismissiveness which led me to seek out other recordings first, in preference to this one. But, now that I have finally gotten around to purchasing this disc I feel compelled to review it, give it the five stars which it deserves, and say that I think TD was utterly wrong in being so dismissive of this recording. It may well be true that it is not 'the greatest' Fifth ever to be commited to disc but this is, nevertheless, a very fine reading indeed and sumptuously recorded / remastered by the sound engineers. It deserves to be amongst the other Fifth's which you own and I, for one, look forward to giving it repeated listens.

TRACKLIST


1 I. Trauermarsch (In gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt - Plötzlich schneller. Leidenschaftlich. Wild - Tempo I)
2 II. Stürmisch bewegt. Mit größter Vehemenz - Bedeutend langsamer - Tempo I subito
3 III. Scherzo (Kräftig, nicht zu schnell)
4 IV. Adagietto. Sehr langsam
5 V. Rondo-Finale (Allegro)



Thanks to the Original customer.