Paavo Jarvi M2 (Virgin Classics)

[barry guerrero]

Many of you looked at the video teaser for P. Jarvi's upcoming M2 recording on Virgin Classics and expressed an interest in hearing the CDs. Indeed, the recording itself is very good. But that said, it would be very hard for me to place this among its competition. On the whole, I don't think it's quite as good as the Ivan Fischer one on Channel Classcs - my personal favorite to date. Still, there are certain moments here that are as good or better.

Overall, the Virgin Classics sound quality is very good, with plenty of heft in the lower end of the audio spectrum, but there's a bit of gimmickery as well. At times, the harps are artificially pumped way forward - which I rather like - but the timpani get picked up through the same microphones. Fortunately, the timpani playing is very accurate and well tuned (with good attention paid to the written dynamics also). The end of the finale is very well coordinated between the chorus, orchestra, pipe organ, tiefe glocken (deep bells), and the low and high pithced tam-tams. Actually, the tam-tams are the rub as they're simply not struck hard enough. But, they're also big enough that you can still hear them; sort of - they're very deep sounding; rather bass like.    

The earlier movements are very good too. Clocking in at just over 23 minutes, the first movement is weighty and thoroughly considered, but not dragged out either. Since P. Jarvi often times makes strong contrasts between fast and slow tempi, you can well imagine how the end of the first movement goes: he's slow, rhythmic and deliberate sounding with the final funeral cortege, but then does the descending run at the very end of the movement very quickly (well, I've given that away!).

The second movement is beautifully done, with Javi proving that being "Viennese" doesn't mean having to go slow, or be labored sounding, in order to conjure up the requisite amount of coffeehouse charm and coziness. More to the point, he makes the climactic moments of this intermezzo type movmement very exciting (big accellerandos). So too is the main climax to the scherzo that follows, which is just hair raising - a true glimpse of bigger things to come in the finale.

Being a Virgin Classics recording, a lot of emphasis is placed on the vocal and choral work. The chorus employed here - imported from Spain, I think (I don't have the notes here) - is truly outstanding, as is Natalie Dessay. I don't think that the mezzo is quite as distinguished (sorry, I don't have her name either). And thus, I think it's the "Urlicht" movement that is the weakest of the five here. Therefore, I think it's in "Urlicht" that  Ivan Fischer truly scores over this one (better gongs too). However, all things considered, this is yet another very strong recording of Mahler's popular "Resurrection" symphony - one with plenty of pipe organ as well.


         

[barry guerrero]

I should add that one small strike is that the offstage trumpets and percussion are a bit too distant, even though the major climax to the fifth movement's march section is very well handled. Bringing the offstage trumpets, cymbals, and bass drum in closer would have made that passage, that much better. Oh well - can't get everything perfectly right.

[Fafner]

The Chorus is the very same Abbado employed in his Lucerne Resurrection...

[John Kim]

Barry,

Thanks for your nice review. It sounds like that this recording may be a cup of tea for me . I was looking for a Resurrection that more or less falls into the type you described about the Jarvi.

John,

[BeethovensQuill]

It is all about personal favourites and for me Jarvi's comes out on top well above Fischer's, the Jarvi recording is the M2 ive been waiting for, its been in my head ever since i got it 2 weeks ago, Fischer's never did that for me nor Nott's.  Just my opinion thrown into the mix

[barry guerrero]

I can certainly hear why you would feel that way. I prefer Fischer's slower, more Klemperer-like approach to the scherzo (angular; bringing out the irony), and I truly feel that Birgirt Remmart is the better mezzo. At the end, Jarvi has a lot more pipe organ, but Fischer gets more splash out of the low and high pitched tam-tams. I also feel that the Channel Classics sound is a bit less gimmicky. But there are definitely some great moments on Jarvi. They're rather complimentary, I'd say.

[BeethovensQuill]

Yes you hit the nail on the head as to why i never got excited about the Fischer as it does tend be slowish and i never liked Klemperer in Mahler 2, and it drags in places for me like in some of the great moments in the final movement, especially round about 7mins 50secs when the big theme bursts out, for me there is no emotion in that section with Fischer it just seems rather straightforward and slightly dragging.  But Jarvi in that moment the music really takes off and there is tremendous rush of brilliant sunlight.

The odd thing i notced is that Fischer's is overall timing is quicker than Jarvi's but for me and obviously its all about what each person gets from a recording, Jarvi does more with the music. 

Like you i understand why you would like Fischer going by what you've said, thats whats great about all these recordings each person will eventually find there own personal favourite recording of each symphony.

It was interesting reading your review on the Mahler 7 with Jansons on Simax as im currently debating which new Mahler 7 and 3 to get, i was thinking about getting the Macal in both 3 and 7, but i may also try out the Jansons.

[barry guerrero]

The Macal M7 is really good, but the Kobayashi/Czech Phil. M3 is a far more exciting performance than the Macal. I'm not crazy about Macal's M3, although it's quite musical.

[BeethovensQuill]

The Kobayashi M3 i dont believe is available in the UK and having a look around other places such USA, German, French amazon's etc doesnt seem to be available either, unless you know of any places. I quite enjoyed the soundclips of the Macal M3 though.

[John Kim]

The Macal M7 is really good, but the Kobayashi/Czech Phil. M3 is a far more exciting performance than the Macal. I'm not crazy about Macal's M3, although it's quite musical.

Ditto from John, this is by far the best sounding M3rd ever, if nothing else. Kobayashi's reading is also fully up to the outstanding sound quality, providing a clear-eyed view with a natural flow, drama, and depth & emotion.

Along with Lenny's two versions with NYPO, Horenstein, this is my desert island M3rd.

The Macal 3rd is pretty good too but it isn't in the same class as the Kobayashi.

John,

[Leo K]

Ditto on the Kobayashi M3...it is a wonder to behold.

Zinman's M3 has excellant sound too, and one of the great performances of this work on disk.

--Todd

[Russ Smiley]

I'll add my 2¢: I like the performance and recording increasingly as the movements progress.  The overall sound quality is crisp, clear but generally not crystalline.  The first movement is more impetuous than terrifying (for me Blomstedt best captures the terror of the Pesante passage after rehearsal 20).  In the movements thereafter the tempos are mostly familiar and my focus was on the instrumental and human voices which in all cases were satisfying.  The qualities of vocalists Coote and Dessay nicely matched the timbre of the orchestra.  The choir really does a fine, passionate job.  The conclusion is suitably magnificent.  The bells and organ are present but not artificially forward (to my ears).