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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best in Boulez's cycle, 26 May 2006
This is the penultimate release in Boulez's Mahler series (the Eighth will be issued next year). It has been a fine cycle, though some releases have not been comparable with the competition - but this is one of the best ones. The performance is complete on a single CD, timing about 80'30 minutes.
While listening I've compared this to Kaplan's fine recording of the same work, with the same orchestra in the same hall - and on the same label. But the interpretations are really different, especially in I-III.
Boulez's VPO sounds a little closer to the microphones here, with the added benefit of more detail and increased impact, especially in the bass. But Kaplan's soundstage sounds slightly wider. In brief - they are both excellent sonically.
In the opening movement Boulez is very direct and dynamic with some crunching orchestral chords, with lower strings and brass cutting through the texture. There's not much interventionist `interpretation' here, unlike Tilson Thomas's reading on Avie, or even Kaplan, who sounds less controlled than Boulez. But this performance sounds powerful with real edge-of-seat playing.
In the second movement there's more bringing out of the cello line in the long winding melody near the start. This sounds great, and again, it's original.
Tempo-wise Boulez starts off the work just on the fast side of normal, and little by little speeds up - which means that by the time he hits the closing pages of the third movement, he's going at a fair clip. That movement comes in at 9'27, about a minute faster than most. I really like this effect, though some might feel it a little hasty (some parts zoom past almost sounding like sections of Waldteufel's `Skater's Waltz'). But I think a fast tempo works well here - and it's certainly different in this era of cookie-cutter Mahler 2s.
Things settle down a little for `Urlicht', which is superbly done, with the mature and serene singing of Michelle de Young sounding suitably sombre, with a slight beat in her voice adding a hint of sadness.
The finale is also well done, in fact this is perhaps the highlight of the performance, with Boulez's masterly control of the ebb and flow. This has to be one of the most convincing accounts ever recorded with even some of the more vulgar march passages coming off better than any other version I've heard. It held my attention more than Kaplan's I think. Here also the superb recording comes into its own, with a wonderful sense of depth to the sound with chorus ideally 'placed' in the sonic picture. Timpani are also ideally focused and the lower strings and brass add real weight. Perhaps the organ is a little recessed but that's a minor quibble for me.
Christine Schafer and Michelle de Young are first rate soloists, with the former's slight portamenti, for example on her opening statement, giving moments of real beauty. The choral singing is generally first rate as well, though on occasions (e.g. the sforzato entry at 30'13) the chorus can't quite match the attack of Abbado's Lucerne singers (also on DG) - though overall I find Boulez's interpretation more convincing than Abbado's live account.
If you're collecting Boulez's Mahler series than you can add this without hesitation - I've owned or heard most of them, and would place this as one of the best, perhaps alongside the imposing Cleveland Seventh (with its fast second Nachtmusik) and above the Fourth and Sixth, but slightly below the Third, which really is a plausible first recommendation for the work, certainly among digital sets. This Second is certainly much better than Boulez's rather cerebral accounts of the First, Fifth and Ninth, none of which challenge the very best in my view.
Confirmed Mahlerians generally should consider this performance as a supplement to their favourite accounts, as it offers a unique interpretation, superbly played and recorded. On a single disc it really is an easy choice.
If you're a newcome to the `Resurrection' don't hesitate in picking this up either, but with so many other excellent accounts out there maybe I would place a few others alongside it.
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