Lebrecht's latest book

[Jot N. Tittle]

Norman Lebrecht's Why Mahler? How One Man and Ten Symphonies Changed Our World  has arrived, sure to stir arguments with its personal opinions, observations, and conclusions.

The timings are:
   I.   18:30
   II.  190:13
   III. 47:03
   IV.  32:12

Highly recommended for those who need a boost in their blood pressure.

     . & '

[Zoltan]

From the timing it seems like the first movement is a Shostakovich-like Allegro moderato (with a great sense of structure as well?). The second seems to be a symphony (or two) inside a symphony. The third resembles an Andante taken *way* too slowly, while the fourth must be the final movement of Mahler's Sixth with the 10th hammerblow added from discarded sketches (which is why it's two minutes longer than Barry's preferred length of 30 minutes).

But, as we all know, timings are rarely revelatory ...

[Jot N. Tittle]

But, as we all know, timings are rarely revelatory ...

Bravo!

     . & '

[barry guerrero]

"which is why it's two minutes longer than Barry's preferred 30 minutes"

Hey, I've known a few 32 minute finales that I've liked just fine. 30 minutes just seems to be the average for the finale of M6, and I'm just saying that I could easily live within the norm in this case. The business about the slow movement isn't so subjective - it's not an adagio. 

Regardless, no book by Lebrecht should take THAT long to read.