Mahler: Symphony No. 5
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden
The Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden, one-time leader of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, has an instrumentalist's inside view of the music, allowing you to marvel at the composer's contrapuntal...
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden
Purchase product
The Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden, one-time leader of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, has an instrumentalist's inside view of the music, allowing you to marvel at the composer's contrapuntal...
About
Gustav Mahler composed his Fifth Symphony in the summers of 1901 and 1902 whilst staying at Wörthesee in the Austrian Alps, and the influence of nature around him is unquestionable, particularly in the third movement. Elsewhere, Mahler’s personal life is reflected in the themes of death, marital love and exuberant joy.
Recorded live at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, London, on 16 January 2008Contents and tracklist
III. Scherzo
Track length17:38
This track is only available as an album download.
V. Rondo Finale
Track length15:43
This track is only available as an album download.
Awards and reviews
21st June 2008
The Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden, one-time leader of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, has an instrumentalist's inside view of the music, allowing you to marvel at the composer's contrapuntal mastery with renewed admiration. There is also a sweep to the performance, and plenty of energy, with the Adagietto played as a tender intermezzo rather than as a scene-grabbing indulgence.
The whole orchestra plays magnificently, but it would be remiss not to commend the firmly focused solo trumpet and subtly inflected obbligato horn.
5th July 2008
This performance has a sense of purpose and excitement. Van Zweden, a former leader of the Concertgebouw, segues smoothly between moods, and though he almost lets the finale's bombast get the better of him, he delivers an account that is absorbing right into the tumultuous applause.
