Octo_Russ

Mahler - Symphony 4 [Ozawa/Kanawa-Boston Symphony Orchestra] 

This is the first time that this disc makes my Blog, not a version i've played a lot, and still a performance that i'm coming to grips with, this entry only makes the thirteenth appearance of Mahler in my Blog in almost three years!, and only the fifth time that this Symphony gets in, this was the very first Mahler Symphony i got into, and at one time i played it like crazy, i remember a very memorable event playing it in Tenby [South Wales], it was just revelatory [it was Karajan / Mathis / Berliner Philharmoniker], ever since i've had such a soft spot for the slow movement, and it didn't fail me today, what a heavenly creation, the last movement is meant to be the 'child's vision of heaven', but it's the movement before that really explains it better, thank you Mahler.

Seiji Ozawa is Japanese, he's now 77, he recorded this disc in 1987, making a full cycle of the Symphonies of Mahler with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the front cover photograph is by Christian Steiner, a nice straightforward enough portrait, the lighting is wonderful, nice shadows, the black background works wonders on the lighted areas, nice use of the hands too, great lettering creates perfection.

Well like i said above, the third movement really came together today, it really hit the spot, it's one of those moments that the music comes very alive, it hit my heart hard, there are just times when it all comes together, and i'm thankful for these moments, it makes all the buying / listening to music worth it, Ozawa takes just over 20 minutes, and the movement is mainly in the key of G Major,,

Here's Leonard Bernstein conducting the third movement on YouTube.