Here are some comments I found on the new Haitink/Concertgebouw M4 with Christine Schaefer. I may finally have something from Haitink to cheer about:
"I've just received this and played it once. I thought his Berlin Philharmonic version from 1992 was underrated. For comparison, here are the timings of this Berlin Phil performance : 17'30, 9'17, 21'54, and 9'35. Haitink's new SACD has timings of 16'38, 8'57, 20'01 and 9'37".
"He really seems to have rethought his interpretations, in the manner of his acclaimed LSO LIve Beethoven symphonies. The opening movement is crisp. In my experience, only Boulez in his Cleveland SACD plays the opening movement more quickly. It also suits his rejuvenated manner to have Cristine Schäfer as his soloist, presenting a 'younger', fresher finale in comparison to the creamier sounds of Sylvia McNair. I'll have to listen to the slow movement a few more times. It certainly doesn't meander and dawdle like Thomas's SFSO slow movement".