For this volume in the
WDR Cologne Broadcasts series on Profil,
Jukka-Pekka Saraste and the
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln offer a compelling performance of
Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 that's well worth exploring.
Saraste is much better known for his fine recordings of symphonies by
Jean Sibelius and
Carl Nielsen, but he has performed
Mahler before, notably recording the Fifth with the
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra for Virgin in 1999. The most noticeable feature of this Cologne performance is the clear separation of solos and orchestral sections, which makes all the inner lines and rhythmic details absolutely transparent. The complexity of
Mahler's counterpoint is often problematic for less experienced conductors, but
Saraste lets the music unfold naturally, without over-interpreting it or manipulating textures, tempos, and dynamics, and the musicians deliver their parts with close attention to
Mahler's indications. This may not be the most sumptuous performance, nor the most hair-raising (except for the final pages, which are stunning), but it is a satisfying reading that communicates
Mahler's intentions admirably, and this CD ranks among the best digital recordings of what is arguably
Mahler's most popular symphony.