Mahler - Symphony 4 [Henricks/Mehta-Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]Straight off, what a superb booklet photograph! [by Eric Bach], one of the very best i have in my disc collection, i wish i knew where it was taken, i'm sure it's Switzerland or Austria, the 'tiny' castle on the hill, juxtaposed with the blossoms on the tree, and that lovely blue sky, i wish every Record Label would realise that 'booklets sell discs' for me.
Well, here we are with another Mahler 4, only two days ago i wrote about this Symphony with Jarvi / Finnie [19th June 2010], i really feel that this was a better experience than then, or is it that i was just in the mood today?.
So Zubin Mehta is Indian, something i didn't know, he's 64 and now lives in the United States, this work was recorded in 1979.
Again i so much enjoyed the heavenly slow movement, and the main difference over Jarvi, is that Mehta takes his time over the opening 3 minutes, gently caressing a real beauty, and what a difference in such a lovely beginning!, those heartbeat bass pizzicatos, and those endearing strings [0:00-1:12], the higher violin sweetness which follows doesn't have the same contrast [1:12-1:47], but it much more naturally follows on from the opening, the entry of the oboe [1:47+] is a magical moment, full of pathos, but it's those high violins which follow, and like an elevator into the clouds and heaven beyond, ah those heavenly strings melt me!, they take a turn for the best at [2:45+], and reach their zenith around [3:13], it's so gut-wrenchingly gorgeous!, deeper into the movement there's a refrain / lament which is full of sadness [13:14-14:18], where the cellos are so mournful, again like yesterday, the closing moments are magical, starting with high violin strings full of pathos [16:16+, 17:12+ & 17:33+], quiet, sweet, and gentle, until the explosion erupts [18:33+], the triangle is clearly heard here, trumpets and horns blaze a fanfare, with timpani beating out, while the closing section later is endearing [19:54+], the high violins take a sweet turn, and the harp comes in, Mehta makes a lovely case for these final statements of gentleness and rest, reminds me very much of the closing pages of Saturn from Holst, when i think of this movement, i have in my minds eye a peaceful walk in the woods, and a quiet final rest in heaven.
Here's Sinopoli conducting the third movement on YouTube.
