Track Listing

1. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 1. Bedächtig. Nicht eilen
2. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 1. Tempo I
3. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 1. Wieder wie zu Anfang. Sehr gemächlich, behaglich
4. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 1. Wieder plötzlich langsam und bedächtig
5. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 2. In gemächlicher Bewegung. Ohne hast
6. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 2. Nicht eilen
7. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 3. Ruhevoll
8. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 3. Viel langsamer
9. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 3. Anmutig bewegt
10. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 3. Andante
11. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 3. Vorwärts. Poco più mosso
12. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 4. Sehr behaglich
13. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 4. Wieder lebhaft
14. Symphony No. 4 in G major: Movement 4. Tempo I. Sehr zart und geheimnisvoll bis zum Schluss

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23898 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1999-03-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Sublime
Mahler's 4th Symphony is arguably his most beloved. While a Symphony for full orchestra, it is a source of much intimate charm. This performance, recorded in 1960, sounds superb on CD. Bernstein draws out of NY Philharmonic a richly rewarding performance. Reri Grist, soprano, adds the perfect vocal to the final movement. This is a performance that is conceived with ideal tempos, dynamics and colors. I think Bernstein's overall reading of Mahler's works is exceptional, but this, in Mahler's most tuneful and optimistic Symphony, the performance seems perfectly in tune with the composers intentions. I will be playing this CD many many times. Enjoy!

Bernstein's early Mahler
This is a thrilling realization of Mahler's 4th, a work usually treated as a more refined, lyrical exception to Mahler's typical work. This is a good example of Bernstein's different approach in his first cycle for Sony (nee Columbia). It's intense, exciting, and plays up the music's inherent contrasts, unlike, say, the much admired Szell recording which opts for a lyrically refined performance, which tends to smooth out the contrasts. The remastered sound has the NY Philharmonic sounding like the virtuosic ensemble they truly were. In short, this is a wonderful example of Bernstein's historically significant first Mahler cycle, where he enthusiastically presented the composer to the listening public.

Because I have dissed the 1990 DG Bernstein/Wittek Mahler #4
I just want to note that this 1960 remastered version is great. I agree with all the positive comments below, but also want to emphasize that the sound is unusual & wonderful here. The microphones must have been mainly above Bernstein's head to get the unusually broad, clear sonic perspetive. The remastered sound is also of exceptional quality, and the resulting clarity fits the conductor's measured, highly resolved take on the music perfectly. Recommended, and a great bargain.