In Reply to: "Bernstein doesn't press forward enough" posted by Chris from Lafayette on April 13, 2017 at 08:01:13:
No no no. : ) Bernstein gilds the lily too much in the 1st mov't. As for the choral finale, Mahler saved so many surprises from his toy box for the end, why rush it? We've got:
"Langsam" at fig. 46, later the directive is "somewhat" pressing, then somewhat cautious right before fig 47. "More motion" at fig 47. A four measure ritard before fig 48 and the Pesante indication, and, significantly: a great *unfolding* of power. We're also back to 4/4 from 2/2; symbolic?
Personally, I think Bernstein is more in the ball park than Solti, and others who take the finale at a relatively breezy tempo. Mahler doesn't warn the conductor about dragging, unless I missed the indication.
The Finale is a risk that pays-off, IMHO. He keeps it going with carefully graded crescendi. Gets me every time, and that's a rarity these days.
As for pair-bonding fun, the 2nd mov't is a landler after all.
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Follow Ups
- RE: "Bernstein doesn't press forward enough" - jdaniel@jps.net 09:07:42 04/13/17 (3)
- Just giving you a hard time! - Chris from Lafayette 11:16:20 04/13/17 (2)
- No worries, it's not as if I responded with veiled death threats. : ) nt - jdaniel@jps.net 12:53:37 04/13/17 (1)
- Oh! You mean like some people here? [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 14:19:02 04/13/17 (0)