Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 5 - Harmonia Mundi

"Aufnahme"
Recorded live at the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig, 21/22 February 2013

As Riccardo Chailly points out, "The Fifth begins with a dark, gloomy, and tragic tone, but then is enlivened in the Scherzo and Adagietto, and eventually ends with a more positive character in the Finale - perhaps for the last time in Mahler's life. The Adagietto is a revelation, a spiritual oasis. It is not and expression of pain, but rather Mahler's declaration of love to Alma - a song without words. With the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Chailly gives the piece and unsurpassed intensity of sound and emotional expression. He achieves a compelling arc of tension in which the symphony's unique fascination unfolds. The "Wiener Zeitung" characterized Chailly's interpretation as "impressive with powerful and unreserved intensity."