Mahler: Symphony No. 9
This live recording documents Bernstein's only encounter with the Berlin Philharmonic, but its special significance doesn't stop there. The orchestra's music director at the time, Herbert von Karajan, was recording Mahler symphonies selectively and, after Bernstein's departure, decided to record the Ninth, taking advantage of his American counterpart's having taught the piece to his orchestra. Of course, Bernstein's interpretation is different fromthat of Karajan, with its emotionalism and feeling for the Jewish ethnic music that underlies Mahler's dance rhythms. It's also a leaner interpretation than the one heard from Bernstein's encounters with the Vienna Philharmonic. There's a special tension here that issues from two different musical entities--Bernstein and the orchestra--working hard to find a common ground.--David Patrick Stearns