. . I like to think that he's basing his interpretations more off of what the scores are telling you to do (and not do) than most other people are. To me, his Mahler cycle is kind of like a modern day equivalent of the old Kubelik cycle. What it lacks in bombast and Mahlerian rhetoric, is easily compensated for with just sheer musicality. But as with ANY Mahler cycle, some are better than others. I think his 4th would have been better, IF it had a better soprano than Orgonasova (whatever her name is). I like his fifth, but it's truly not as good as some of the other ones are. I very much like his new 7th, but the finale could have become a tad more unhinged for my liking. It's a tad safe and sane. I'll bet he does a very good, and very musical 8th. He won't short change the organ either.
Barry
