Mahler: Symphony No. 5.(Sound recording review)

Mahler: Symphony No. 5. James DePreist, London Symphony Orchestra. Naxos 8.557990.

A friend of mine was commenting recently on how the cost of the formerly budget-priced Naxos releases has inched to within a few dollars or what we normally regard as the mid-price range. It's true; as of this writing Naxos discs were selling at a list price of $8.99, which means their competition is a lot tougher.

In fairness, they have been attracting some big names of late. This Mahler disc, for example, boasts one of America's finest conductors, James DePreist, and one of the world's finest orchestras, the London Symphony. Still, while it's a good performance and a good recording, you have to consider that for just a little more money, $11.98, you can buy an acknowledged classic like Sir John Barbirolli's 1970 account from EMI in their "Great Recordings of the Century" series. It makes you stop and think for a moment.

Anyway, DePreist makes a decent alternative at any price. Given that Mahler symphonies, and especially the Fifth, provide enough varied material--from grave and gloomy to joyful and triumphant, from lush and lovely to grand and ...