Well now, this is more like it! After a comparatively uninteresting Fifth Symphony for this label (not to be confused with his outstanding Melbourne recording of that work for ABC Classics), Markus Stenz is back in fine Mahlerian form. His Fourth symphony is wonderfully distinctive, most notably for a freshness and spontaneity that perfectly suits the music. At the same time, however, Stenz and the Cologne players capture a remarkable amount of detail (and this is the crucial point) without ever sounding mannered or self-conscious.
Stenz’s most characterful touches may be most obvious in the scherzo and finale, both of which are taken quite swiftly by today’s standards. The result gives the former an extra jolt of sardonic humor, especially when contrasted with the much slower trio sections. In the finale, the relatively quick tempo gives the soprano’s childlike delivery almost the feel of a nursery rhyme, while the dreamy smile in her voice in the last stanza is simply exquisite.
Many of the same characterful qualities are evidenced in the first movement and Adagio as well. Stenz permits himself a very wide range of tempo, but never to the point where the music sounds excessively sectionalized or threatens to fall apart. The climaxes in the first movement are aptly ferocious, while the contrast between the Adagio’s calm first theme and its more passionate minor-key episodes is really telling. He gets through the latter movement in about 20 minutes, but emotionally speaking it feels much bigger (not longer!) still. In sum, this is simply a wonderful performance, excellently played, recorded, and sung, and it’s different enough from all of the competition to justify purchase even if you already think you own enough versions of this symphony.
