Looks like Ozawa is back, turning in a truly fine and exciting Mahler 1 with his Saito Kinen Orchestra.
This performance from 2008 was broadcast on NHK's international TV channel back in April. Here's what I posted at the M-List on April 19th:
"On the whole, an excellent performance, very well played. Ozawa conducted
without a score.
Brisk tempos throughout (perhaps a bit too brisk for me in the opening
movement). The woodwind parts during the long 'pedal point' opening
seemed too loud/forward. Don't know if that had to do with miking. Off
stage trumpets were fine and I could see three of them taking their seats
on stage later in the first movement.
The only real weak spot was a tentative/not-quite-together entrance of the
strings at the beginning of the 'Lindenbaum' episode in the 3rd movement.
The Finale was the best part of this performance, very taut, well-
structured with smooth transitions and no feeling of 'episodic-ness'. And
yes, the horns did stand at the end!"
I saw this Ozawa performance for sale in both CD and DVD formats yesterday at Tower Records here in Tokyo, but didn't bother to check the label. I was actually looking for Wakasugi's recording of M1, but to my surprise I could not find a single Wakasugi Mahler recording in the whole store.
On another issue raised by Barry recently, there is no justification for the opening of the 3rd movement being played by the entire double bass section. This could be a disturbing new trend as it appears that Gergiev does this in his new recording (which I heard on the JAL flight from Honolulu to Tokyo). Mahler only authorised a solo double bass, and all contemporary reviews of the published score and performances during Mahler's lifetime consistently refer to a single double bass. This is some kind of red herring which has been condemned by Prof. de La Grange among others.
Mike Bosworth
