Mahler: Symphony No. 3.(Sound Recording Review)

Mahler: Symphony No. 3. Benjamin Zander, Philharmonia Orchestra. Telarc 3CD-80599.

This is as enjoyable a performance of Mahler's Third, his "nature" symphony, as any I've heard, and it's as realistically recorded as any around. In a three-for-the-price-of-one package, it's hard to beat.

I have to admit, though, that beyond the first movement here, I don't find Mahler's inspiration as compelling as a lot of other people do. Anyway, the first thing I did after listening to this massive symphony--all six movements and over 100 minutes of it, one of Mahler's longest works--was to compare it to my favored Horenstein interpretation with the London Symphony Orchestra on Unicorn, recorded some thirty years earlier.

Two things struck me: One, the older recording still sounded good. Not as good as the new Telarc, mind you, but well in the ballpark. The Horenstein seemed a tad brighter, slightly less well detailed, and lighter in the bass. The Zander seemed more naturally balanced, with slightly greater depth and, of course, the famous Telarc low end. But there were times when the top end of the Telarc ...