Mahler: Symphony No. 4

Album review

For many years, Gustav Mahler's comparatively compact Symphony No. 4 in G major has enjoyed special favor, and alongside the Symphony No. 1 in D major, "Titan," and the Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor, it has been recorded more frequently than his other, much lengthier symphonies. Its enduring popularity has not gone unnoticed by the major recording companies, who often have multiple new releases and historic reissues competing in the market; its ubiquity seems to have made many of these discs seem redundant, regardless of their merits. So in the interest of finding a new angle on this amply recorded work, MDG offers an alternative: Erwin Stein's chamber version in a charming performance by the Thomas Christian Ensemble, featuring radiant soprano Christiane Oelze. This is the fourth recording of this arrangement in as many years, and may be a sign of a glut to come; but until such time as Stein's 1921 reduction for chamber orchestra wears out its welcome, this recording deserves to be heard, if only for its novelty. Listeners who know the Symphony No. 4 intimately may find this rendition engaging in a gemütlich parlor style, and mentally fill in gaps in the orchestration where brass and other missing instruments should be. Yet for all of Stein's cleverness in adapting the piece for smaller forces, his pared-down score is no substitute for the original in all its shimmering glory. Newcomers are advised to get well acquainted with any of several first-rate recordings of the symphony before investing in this one, which, in fairness, hampers appreciation of Mahler's delightfully orchestrated music. MDG's natural, unprocessed sound is exceptionally clear and close-up, so everything is audible, including a few slight intonation problems and some gritty bowing.
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