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Mahler: Symphony No. 7 - Gergiev

Mahler: Symphony No. 7 - Gergiev

LSO Live  LSO0665

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Mahler: Symphony No. 7

London Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev (conductor)


The Seventh is often regarded as Mahler’s 'Cinderella' symphony and, after the tragic theme of the Sixth, proves far more enigmatic. The funereal march of the opening movement gives way to the serene Nachtmusik (night music) movements, and a ghostly scherzo before culminating in a feverishly joyful finale.

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Review by Graham Williams - August 3, 2008

Those who have bought the earlier issues in Gergiev’s Mahler cycle will not be surprised to find the same individual approach to the 7th. The rough hewn, almost coarse sound, that at times characterised much of his performance of the 6th symphony, coupled with a propensity to drive the music forward whenever possible, is evident here too. It is, however, tempered with a welcome degree of relaxation in the more lyrical passages of the work. There is no need to reiterate the limitations of the dry Barbican acoustic, but surprisingly, the close balance and instrumental clarity of the recording seems to work well in conjunction with Gergiev’s visceral account of the symphony. One wonders whether the performance would have the same impact had it been recorded in the sumptuous sound quality provided for say MTT.

The opening movement starts cautiously with an impression of hesitation, almost as if Gergiev was feeling his way towards the correct tempo for the introduction, but when the strong march rhythms of the ‘Allegro risoluto, ma non troppo’ arrive (accompanied by a little vocalisation from the conductor) the performance really begins to gain power. With the arrival of the second subject at 4’50’’ Gergiev relaxes with some apt and convincing rubato before pressing forward once again. The magical central episode of the movement (from 9’00’’) is ravishingly played by the LSO, and if it fails to achieve the last degree of mystery and stillness, this is due more to the lack of the venue’s acoustic depth than the playing or conducting.

The first Nachtmusik is taken at quite a jaunty tempo, full of illuminating detail and fine solo contributions from this wonderful orchestra. Mahler’s cowbells are very prominent, certainly not providing as remote a sound as Mahler might have wished, but their audibility is to be welcomed.

The Scherzo is fleet; perfectly meeting Mahler’s ‘Schattenhaft’ marking and as expected Gergiev relishes the movement’s grotesqueries without indulging in any exaggeration of them. Particular praise here is due to the alert percussion section and the brass.

The second Nachtmusik is played with unexpected tenderness (not a word often used to describe a Gergiev performance), yet at an ideal tempo that keeps the music moving forward and avoids any hint of unacceptable sentimentality. In a movement that can, in some hands, ramble, Gergiev’s clear-eyed approach is most welcome. Once again individual solo contributions, violin, horn, clarinet and mandolin are noteworthy.

The LSO rise manfully to the challenge of the Rondo-Finale’s dazzling brilliance with its opening references to Wagner’s Die Meistersinger. Though taken at a pretty fast speed, Gergiev captures the deceptive sunny exuberance of the movement, gradually building up the excitement, and from 14’0’’ to the final bars unleashes a cataclysmic sound that brings to a triumphant end this night-to-day symphony.

There is no doubt that this is a phenomenal performance, mesmerizing in its incisiveness and explosive energy, and notable not only for the clarity with which Gergiev’s vision of the symphony is presented, but also for the magnificent playing of the LSO on peak form. The sound quality is by far the best that I have heard from LSO Live with a deep powerful bass and plenty of air around the instruments, an indication that Neil Hutchinson and Jonathan Stokes have got the measure of the difficult Barbican acoustic.

This is a Mahler 7th not to be missed.

Copyright © 2008 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

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Sonics (Multichannel):

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