Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer - Mahler: Symphony No. 3 (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/192]

I love the whole symphony but from the second movement two favorite moments, two details, spring to mind. First, the recapitulation when the solo violin takes flight, like a buzzing bee around a flower, and then accidentally finds itself in a wonderful modulation to E major. The second is the ending. The flowers, that move and dance elegantly against the wind, suddenly expose their Tristan-like soul. From the vast first movement I would choose the huge, yawning creature’s (Pan’s?) first appearance. Conducting the Scherzo I am always carried away by the inserted episodes which interrupt the post horn – first by a group of baroque birds, then rococo ones flying up from the pages of a Mozart piano concerto. What an ingenious and unpredictable use of different styles! Finally, the endless melody of the last movement moves me every time with its intimate beauty and honesty. There is something divine in the wealth of this great masterpiece. Iván Fischer

TRACKLIST

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Symphony No. 3
1. Entschieden 33:14
2. Tempo di Menuetto 10:14
3. Comodo, Scherzando 18:31
4. Sehr Langsam 08:15
5. Lustig im Tempo 04:02
6. Langsam. Ruhevoll 21:31

PERSONNEL
Gerhild Romberger (alto)
Cantemus Children's Choir (chorus)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks (chorus)
Budapest Festival Orchestra
Iván Fischer (conductor)