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Horenstein conducts Mahler 1st and Bruckner 9th
by Giacomo Cataldo
While Jascha Horenstein’s repertory had a remarkably wide range (it may come as a surprise that, amongst other things, he was a pioneer in period instrument performance), it is hard to deny that the pinnacle of his recorded legacy lies with his performances of the Mahler canon, which he helped popularize at a time when the works were, let us say, less than fashionable.
The quality of the sound in this 1951 recording of Mahler’s first symphony belies its age. The frequencies do not feel as ‘boxed’ as other recordings from this period often do, and there is a decent dynamic range. The close sound of the recording results in a transparency that allows one to hear all the parts with surprising clarity. This increases the value of the recording as it allows the listener to hear all of the little details in Mahler’s score, which are sometimes lost in more spacious recordings, along with the fine nuances that Horenstein coaxes from his Vienna Symphony players (Horenstein had actually made his conducting debut with this very work and orchestra in 1924).
Horenstein’s direction truly brings out that wildness inherent in the gestures of the first movement, conjuring up the savage landscapes that formed the breeding ground of ideas in Mahler’s imagination...
To read the rest of this article, please visit the author's link Horenstein concucts Mahler: Symphony N.1 in D major “Titan” and Bruckner: Symphony N.9 in D minor (Original Version)
Giacomo Cataldo - © 2008
The views and opinions in this blog post are those of its author.
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