A couple weeks ago I heard M9 live with the CSO and Jakub Hrůša. Overall I found it a fine performance, though execution had some rough moments in I. The Rondo burleske was razor sharp; I suspect that rehearsal time was concentrated on that movement.
I do have to bust Hrůša for flunking one of my acid tests. In II, the dance becomes increasingly frenetic until it slams into a bar line marked “Tempo I. subito,” but like many conductors, perhaps a majority, Hrůša makes a gradual transition, thereby spoiling the joke. Until Tempo I. returns, the horns are playing their four ascending pickup notes at a comically fast tempo, and these notes should be played fast until the bar line. Having them ease back into the slower tempo is just wrong.
Before and after the concert, I’ve been surveying M9 recordings. A few observations:
Netopil/Essen: A solid interpretation compromised by murky sound from the lower midrange on down, and by weak horns.
Fischer/Dűsseldorf: Another solid reading, let down by surprisingly rough playing. It’s troublesome throughout, and I had to grit my teeth to get through the Rondo burleske.
Boulez/CSO: Yes, Boulez has that “alien from a cold planet” reputation, but this interpretation in particular seems consistently undercharacterized. In II, Tempo II is barely quicker than Tempo I. I find it hard to understand how anyone could turn in such a ho-hum performance of IV, some of the most passionately beautiful music ever written. (However, Boulez’s own “Rituel,” a filler one one of the Gielen issues, is an interesting piece that I find rewarding; Gielen is OK but the composer’s own recording with the BBC Symphony is outstanding.)
Gilbert/NY Phil: An outstanding performance, just consistently excellent. The SQ on this and other live Gilbert/NY recordings is sharp and clear, and orchestral execution is first class. Gilbert even passes the acid test in II. I’ve enjoyed Gilbert’s Royal Stockholm Philharmonic recording on BIS previously, but haven’t yet listened to it in my current M9 obsession.
This is a small sample of M9s I’ve recently surveyed. I’m taking a break because I reached a saturation point. I tend to reserve my previous favorites for last, but I did sneak in Ozawa (very fine, benefits from a boost in treble). Dohnanyi/Cleveland has also been at the top level, in the opinion of yours truly.
