Negative Positive
Title: Forever an unfinished symphony?
Review: Cooke said himself that Mahler's tenth would never be in itself a complete work of art and all he has done is to put a more substancial form to a thin framework. However, to dismiss this work because of it is a huge mistake. The thematic intent is all Mahler's: Cooke just added some orchestration to some of the movements, but either way it is powerful to the extreme, the climax following the quiet musing in the first movement is arguably the most moving passage written by any composer ever and the way in which it turns full circle and finishes with the adagio, which is warmer than the nineth and with more hope, is just sublime. Rattle is meticulous and at the same time brings out white-hot excitement from the music. He is without doubt the best conductor alive today, especially in this kind of music.
Is the review positive or negative? 