Boult’s Triumphant Trilogy: Mahler’s Symphonies No. 5, 7, and 8 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
Gustav Mahler: Symphonies 5, 7, 8 (BBC SO/Boult) [Pristine Audio, 3CD] These bracing live 1947-48 recordings capture the BBC SO and Adrian Boult tackling three of Mahler’s most ambitious middle symphonies. The Fifth’s stormy opening gives way to the famous Adagietto, rendered with poignant restraint. Boult drives the Seventh’s “night music” movements with purpose, finding the threads linking its disparate episodes. But the real prize is the monumental “Symphony of a Thousand,” recorded at Royal Albert Hall, the massive chorus and orchestra conjuring cosmic vistas and earthly delights. Sound quality is decent for the era. Even Mahler skeptics may be converted by the sheer conviction on display. A-
Claude Debussy, Albert Roussel, and Paul Dukas were three prominent French composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, each with their unique style and approach to music. This new release from Onyx Classics, performed by the Royal Liverpool …
Legendary violinist Ivry Gitlis, known for his powerful and expressive playing, is featured in this 1997 recording of Bach’s violin concertos and solo works, released on the Rhine Classics label. Gitlis is joined by Natalia Likhopoi in the Double Violin …