Mariss Jansons, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Mahler: Symphony No.5 (2008) {SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz}

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and chief conductor Mariss Jansons have a long and cherished history performing the music of Gustav Mahler, whose compositions have become a staple of the RCO’s repertoire. These live recordings of Mahler’s majestic Symphony No. 5 are drawn from concerts presented in late 2007 and early 2008, commemorating the 120th anniversary of the RCO’s first performance. On this album Jansons underscores more than ever the symphony’s narrative, poetic side.

One of the most frequently recorded works in the hybrid SACD format is Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor, for the apparent reason that it is one of the most vibrantly orchestrated, expressively varied, and astonishing-sounding symphonies in the repertoire, to say nothing of being one of the composer’s most characteristic and popular compositions. So when Mariss Jansons and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra present their live version in a state-of-the-art recording, it is with the sure knowledge that it’s up against massive competition, with virtually every new conductor adding a spectacular version to the catalog, and even some old multichannel recordings are being revived. While Jansons holds his own as an original and insightful interpreter of Mahler, and the RCO plays with assurance and excitement, this rendition only falls short of being truly impressive by offering slightly less than spectacular sound. Even though one must put up with small annoyances, such as occasional rhythmic inaccuracies and Jansons’ periodic humming during exposed lyrical passages, this could have been a terrific recording if RCO Live had captured the orchestra’s sonorities more vividly, and done so with a cleaner audio. In really quiet moments, there is the faintest trace of hiss that any attentive listener can pick up, and this can be a drawback for audiophiles who demand the finest digital. But when individual instruments lack a penetrating tone and the climaxes don’t blaze, it might actually be attributable to some decisions made at the mixing board, and listeners will feel that loss in too many places of realistic sound, even if they give Jansons and the RCO the benefit of the doubt in other regards.

Tracklist:
01 – Erste Abteilung. Trauermarsch: In gemessenem Schritt. String. Wie ein Kondukt
02 – Erste Abteilung. Stürmisch Bewegt: Mit grösster Vehemenz
03 – Zweite Abteilung. Scherzo: Kräftig, nicht zu schnell
04 – Dritte Abteilung. Adagietto: Sehr langsam
05 – Dritte Abteilung. Rondo-Finale: Allegro
06 – Applause

Recorded live at Concertgebouw Amsterdam on October 18 & 21, 2007 & January 16-17, 2008.

Personnel
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Mariss Jansons – conductor

SACD ISO

mqs.link_MarissJansnsRyalCncertgebuwrchestraMahler.SymphnyN.52008SACDIS.part1.rar
mqs.link_MarissJansnsRyalCncertgebuwrchestraMahler.SymphnyN.52008SACDIS.part2.rar
mqs.link_MarissJansnsRyalCncertgebuwrchestraMahler.SymphnyN.52008SACDIS.part3.rar
mqs.link_MarissJansnsRyalCncertgebuwrchestraMahler.SymphnyN.52008SACDIS.part4.rar

FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz

mqs.link_MarissJansnsRyalCncertgebuwrchestraMahler.SymphnyN.52008FLACStere2488.part1.rar
mqs.link_MarissJansnsRyalCncertgebuwrchestraMahler.SymphnyN.52008FLACStere2488.part2.rar