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MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 'Titan'. PURCELL: Elizabethan Suite  Hallé Orchestra Sir John Barbirolli. Dutton Labs CDJSB 1015 68m ADD

 


Crotchet



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Barbirolli's Mahler was a labour of love and one can only recall his justly legendary recordings of the Fifth and Ninth symphonies to assert that fact. However, I am extremely enthusiastic about this incredible recording of a rare Hallé First, this is well-nigh perfectionism that recalls the white heat of Bernstein at his best (1967/CBS, 1985/DG). Barbirolli's subtly mysterious opening is haunting, a perfect expression of some romantic Mahlerian forest glade. As the movement builds up in intensity, one is almost mesmerized by the frightening tension that the Hallé strings whip up married to some full throated brass halloos that are really worth the price of the disc alone!

In the Second Movement, Barbirolli's slow measured tempo is well-nigh ideal with the heady and intoxicating atmosphere of the Viennese woods perfectly re-created, indeed I was almost entranced in a similar way by only Walter and Mitropoulos beforehand. Crashing and cajoling his way through the enigmatic Third Movement, Barbirolli and his orchestra almost don the hats and coats of Austrian mountaineers, such is their involvement. The Finale is also quite special, twenty minutes of sheer unaldurated beauty culminating in that hair-raising coda of joy and triumph. The crashing opening bars are also vivid in their intensity, this really made me recall an old radio programme about local crimes of the past which used this very music as its signature tune.

There are warts and imperfections in the playing, but I can guarantee you that you will be emotionally drained after listening to such Mahlerian magnificence. One must remember that this was 1957 and with a Pye recording as clean as a whistle, no-one could wish for such a tremendous reissue. Dutton add Barbirolli's late 1969 release of Purcell's Elizabethan Suite, a pot-pourri of opulence and glorious Imperialistic majesty. It is instructive to compare this with the earlier 1930's Victor recording also available on Dutton.

 Here the melodies are more expansive, more drawn out, it sometimes seems that the ageing and ill conductor was almost wringing out the last drops out of this sublime music. As usual the presentation of these Barbirolli Society CD's is absolutely impeccable and I must urge you to acquire the disc on the incredible strengths of the Mahler, surely a performance of a lifetime.

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech 

Performance:

Sound:

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech 

Performance:

Sound:

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