Chailly 'rethinks' M6 with this stunning live performance. December 12, 2013
By B. Guerrero
Format:DVD
Riccardo Chailly continues to convert formerly dour Leipzig into a modern day 'Mahlerville'. In the accompanying 'panel discussion' on the sixth symphony, Chailly states people on the street ask him when the next Mahler performance will be happening. Another commentator points out that there have been two back-to-back Mahler festivals in Leipzig. Wow! - as I've said before, this is a great time to be a Mahler enthusiast. Anyway, this is a really fine performance of Mahler six that, in my opinion, is even better than the already fine dvd issue of M6 that Claudio Abbado and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra put out just a few years ago. That said, no one would go wrong by either one. Let's talk about the differences between this one and Chailly's '80s audio recording for Decca with the Concertgebouw Orchestra.
In the accompanying panel discussion, Chailly states that he based his earlier Concertgebouw recording on Wilhelm Mengelberg's marked-up score (complete with metronome markings, which Mahler almost never used). As a result of that, the first movement is three minutes faster here than in Amsterdam! (22:30 vs. 25:30). I like the deep pitched cowbells better from the Concertgebouw percussion section, but they're perfectly adequate in Leipzig as well. There's definitely a more 'manic' energy to this Leipzig first movement. This is followed up with the Andante Moderato movement, whereas Chailly recorded M6 in scherzo/andante order in Amsterdam. So far, I'd call it a tie.
It's interesting to note that the timings for the slow movement are identical for both performances, even though the order has now been switched. I think the movement sounds a tad more spontaneous and 'heartfelt' here than in Amsterdam, but that may simply be a matter of 'live' vs. studio recording. Both are good (with great cowbells in Amsterdam - again). Slight edge to Leipzig, but not by much.
The scherzo is where we find Chailly's most radical 'rethink'. In the Decca recording, Chailly pretty much took the scherzo at the same tempo as the end of the first movement (which he already took a tad slower than usual). As a result, there was a sort of 'cubistic' feel to his earlier scherzo that may have better suited Adorno's description of the scherzo as being a, quote, "Laendler dance with a Polar Bear". Chailly now takes the scherzo at a very fast clip, with strong contrasts between fast and slow sections (the numerous variants of the trio section). As a result, this scherzo now times in at less than 12 minutes (vs. 13:20). I agree with Chailly's comment (from the panel discussion) that if you're going to place the scherzo third, then you have to do it at a tempo that's very different from the first movement. I'm not sure, however, why that same comment can't apply when performing M6 in scherzo/andante order. Advantage: Leipzig. I like this scherzo much more. Now the finale.
The booklet timing of 34:20 for the finale is deceptive, as there are several minutes of applause and soloist acknowledgments at the end of the same track. And that particular fact brings me to my one and only complaint: I think any dvd of Mahler 6 would be far more effective with a visual fade-out shortly after the symphony's audio fade-out. Let the screen go completely black for 20 seconds or so. Better yet (and more dramatic as well), turn the screen completely black at the symphony's final A-minor outburst - before the audio fade-out, in other words.
I really don't understand why musicians and recording companies feel so insecure, that they think it's necessary to show several minutes of ovation and self congratulations. Let Mahler have his say and then get out. Enough of that.
I would have to re-listen to the Decca finale to comment on any minor differences between the two. This Leipzig finale seems very similar to me. In both instances, Chailly uses a large wooden sound box and wooden hammer for the two hammer strokes (this is becoming the norm everywhere). And in both instances, Chailly elects not to employ the optional cymbals and tam-tam (large gong) to reinforce the second hammer stroke. In both instances, Chailly takes the final A-minor outburst at the very end of the symphony at a slower than usual tempo (I like it!). Chailly is good in both finales.
Given the additional, interesting panel discussion (available with English subtitles), I would recommend this Chailly dvd over the Abbado. But as I stated earlier, both are good. I like it that the panel discussion sticks to musical issues pertaining to the sixth symphony, and doesn't bother to rehash the same-old, tired biographical and autobiographical comments. Excellent picture and sound quality. Fully recommendable in every respect.
Topic: B.G.'s 5 star review (Amazon) for dvd of Chailly/Leipzig M6 (Read 7005 times)