Title: A warm, lyrical, and marvelous interpretation
Product review: For those who know Pierre Boulez's many recordings, "warm" and "lyrical" may not be the first two adjectives to spring to mind. The words are appropriate for this recording of Mahler's First Symphony, however. As in other Boulez recordings, the orchestration is transparent and the logic of the music clear. Here he has the advantage of conducting a superlative orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, one with outstanding first-chair players and a distinctive, powerful brass sound. Both these strengths are used to excellent effect in this performance. Though I'm a big fan of most of Mahler's later symphones -- nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and "Das Lied von der Erde," I never warmed to Symphony #1 until hearing this performance. I am now a fan. Both the symphony and this performance are enchanting.
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