Mahler : Symphony No. 6 in A Minor "Tragic"

Album review

Daniel Harding is no newcomer to the music of Gustav Mahler, having recorded the Symphony No. 4 in G major with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Deryck Cooke's realization of the Symphony No. 10 in F sharp major with the Vienna Philharmonic. With that understood, one may question his choices in the Symphony No. 6 in A minor,"Tragic," as recorded live with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, because the interpretation as a whole seems rushed and a bit impatient, leaving an impression of superficial treatment and missed opportunities. One may take issue with the sequence of the inner movements; indeed, many contemporary conductors offer the Andante moderato and Scherzo ordering, as does Harding, following Mahler's performances, even though it's reversed in the first published score, which makes better sense as a tonal scheme. However, if that were the only problem, it could still be an acceptable reading, but Harding is in too much of a hurry, pushing the musicians too insistently, skimming over inner details of the score, and doing little with the atmospheric tone colors that, in other hands, make this symphony magical. While this performance is still listenable and suitable for study purposes, it's unlikely to be anyone's top choice, and this recording must contend with many great renditions of superior quality and musicianship.

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