Mahler: Symphony No. 6, "Tragic.".

Benjamin Zander, Philharmonia Orchestra. Telarc 3CD-80586 (3-disc set).

Teacher and maestro Benjamin Zander continues his march through the nine Mahler symphonies, this time producing what may be his finest recording yet. I was thoroughly struck by his interpretation of the Fifth Symphony, more so than with his Fourth, but this time I am more impressed than ever. Zander's Telarc reading is among the finest recordings of the Mahler Sixth on record and among the best ever recorded. Yes, it's that good.

Zander's strong suit has always been his commitment to the score. He says he tries to represent the composer's wishes as closely as possible, which in the case of a composer whose music can be so emotional as Mahler's is not an easy task. Most conductors have their own way with the man, but not so Zander, who appears to be; serving the score whilst conveying plenty of emotional intensity, too. I think that's what the composer had in mind.

There are the usual snags, however. In his quest for authenticity, Zander insists on using the original score, which places the Scherzo second and the Andante third, an arrangement Mahler himself changed in rehearsal and preferred, along with most other ...