Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D major
Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev
The final release in Valery Gergiev’s acclaimed Mahler cycle features the composer’s Symphony No 9, recorded at the Barbican Center in London in March 2011.
Mahler’s wrote his Ninth Symphony during a time of great personal suffering and heartache. This is reflected in the music, at times near hysterical and fierce, at others delicate and peaceful, as it explores many emotions and ultimately concludes with the touching coda of the Adagio, seemingly conveying the composer’s acceptance of his own mortality. IN fact, Mahler had delayed writing his 9th symphony, because he was superstitious, knowing that Beethoven wrote only 9.
In addition to his recordings of Mahler’s symphonies, Gergiev’s other recent releases on LSO Live have included acclaimed recordings of music by Debussy, Ravel and Rachmaninov as well as Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet.
CONCERT REVIEWS:
“from the rosy vein struck by the strings to the honed gestures of the woodwind, here was an orchestra at one with itself and its Director” ………….The Guardian
“Gergiev’s reading was both valid and deeply moving. Finally all tears were wiped away, all coughing silenced, in a breathless,peerlessly executed coda [Adagio]” ………………………………Evening Standard
“There’s nothing on the classical circuit that quite compares to the full Valery Gergiev experience. Gergiev’s pacing of the Adagio … felt absolutely right. And the LSO fiddles played majestically for him” …………………………………………The Times
I could not locate a video of Gergiev leading the Mahler 9th, so here is Valery Gergiev conducting the Mahler Symphony No.5, 4th Movement “Adagietto”.
And here is Daniel Barenboim conducting the complete Mahler: Symphony No 5 in C sharp minor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra:
Tags: Gustav Mahler, Symphony #9, Valery Gergiev, London Symphony Orchestra