Mahler: Symphony #4 / Te Kanawa, Solti, Cso

Kiri Te Kanawa - soprano, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Georg Solti - conductor

1. Sym No.4 in G: I. Bedachtig. Nicht eilen 2. Sym No.4 in G: II. In gemachlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast 3. Sym No.4 in G: III. Ruhevoll 4. Sym No.4 in G: IV. Sehr behaglich

As an interpreter of Mahler, Solti has a well-deserved reputation for being driven and unresponsive to Mahler's nuances, but that's not true here. The first movement, though a little too straightforward, allows the music to speak for itself, and with such ravishing playing from the CSO and Decca's transparent sonics, the result is very satisfying. Many listeners will be buying this CD for Kirit Te Kanawa's solo singing in the finale, and she doesn't disappoint. The soprano really tries to evoke childlike innocence, and of course her voice is enchanting in itself. Solti provides a fast tempo, but I like that--he avoids mannered cuteness. In all, I've heard more atmospheric and imaginative readings of the Fourth (Abbado, Bernstein, Welser-Most), but Solti's belongs in the top tier.