Description: 

CD Review by Benjamin Pernick

MAHLER Symphony No. 3 in D minor. • Norma Procter, alto; Ambrosian Singers; Wandsworth Boys' Choir; William Lang, flügelhorn; Dennis Wick, trombone; London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jascha Horenstein. • UNICORN-KANCHANA UKCD 2006/7 (two compact discs [ADD]; 97:15) produced by Harold Lawrence [distributed by Harmonia Mundi USA].

There have been four great recordings of the Mahler Third; by Bernstein, Haitink, Horenstein, and Levine. Now, all four are available on CD. A performance of superbly chosen tempos and firm rhythms, Horenstein's is, of the four, a bit darker, slightly more intense, and less extroverted. Listen, for example, to the growling trombones at the beginning of the exposition, the forceful.

powerful tread of the marches, and the hint of menace in the “Rabble.“ While Horenstein's first movement is (overall) slower; his minuet is quicker than the other three conductors'. The Scherzo, which at 18:14 is a bit faster than Levine's 18:38, is as successful as the two preceding movements. In the fourth movement “O Mensch! Gib Acht!“ is sung movingly, with affecting simplicity by Norma Procter. Here we really get a sense of “die tiefe Mitternacht“; how truly dark and nocturnal this movement is. The plaintive oboe solos are sensitively phrased and expertly played. Horenstein's fifth movement is darker and slower than usual; even the opening “Bimm bamms“ have a sense of foreboding about them. The troubled middle section, especially at “Ich gehe und weine ja bitterlich,“ is outstanding. As wonderful as the first five movements are, it is the finale—ethereal, restrained, and without a trace of schmaltz—that crowns this performance. At 22:52 Horenstein is faster than Bernstein (25:06) and Levine (26:53), while Haitink clocks in at 22:05. Nothing ever seems rushed. This movement's relationship to two other (quite different) celestial images—the “Gates of Heaven“ in the Fourth and the finale of the Ninth—is compellingly brought out.

Harold Lawrence's production, recorded in 1970, has transferred well to silver. There is a great and unexaggerated dynamic range, with everything, especially p and lower, realistically captured. The soundstage has excellent width and depth, and imaging is solid. Perspective is front balcony. Jack Diether's very fine notes from the original have been reprinted. One minor carp: Since there is no coupling, the second movement, which opens Part II, should have been put on the second disc along with the last four movements.

Highly recommended.

Benjamin Pernick

This article originally appeared in Issue 12:2 (Nov/Dec 1988) of Fanfare Magazine.

, , , , , , ,  ‎– Mahler: Symphony No. 3 Label:  ‎– HB 73023 Format: 2 × , LP 
Country: Released: Genre: Style:   Tracklist Side 1No. 1 Kraftig. Entschieden28:28Side 2No. 2 Tempo Di Menuetto. Sehr Massig14:18Side 3aNo. 3 Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast.18:15Side 3bNo. 4 Sehr Lansam. Misterioso9:40Side 4aNo. 5 Lustig ImTempo Und Keck Im Ausdruck4:42Side 4bNo. 6 Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden22:47

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