Juliane Banse, The Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez - Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (2000)
WEB | FLAC (tracks) - 216 MB | 53:34
Genre: Classical | Label: Deutsche Grammophon
WEB | FLAC (tracks) - 216 MB | 53:34
Genre: Classical | Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Normally, Mahler's Fourth Symphony is the one that you turn on for great background listening. It's beautiful, lyrical, and Mahler at his most mellow. But underneath its innocent exterior, there's a lot going on, and who better than technician Pierre Boulez to point out the mechanics? Boulez and the Cleveland Orchestra deliver an impressive performance of this heavenly work that, on the surface, stays clear of romanticism (or, to some ears, rampant emotion). Instead, Boulez focuses on clarity throughout each and every passage. From his quick-tempoed opening movement to the heart-warming "We Enjoy Heaven's Delights" song of the fourth (performed here by soprano Juliane Banse)–Boulez slowly transitions from clinical to dramatic. It's a captivating, modernist interpretation that's thoroughly enthralling.