Mahler: Symphony No. 1, Blumine [Hybrid SACD]

1	Symphony No. 1 in D major
2	Symphony No. 1 in D major
3	Symphony No. 1 in D major
4	Symphony No. 1 in D major
5	Blumine ("Flora"), for or
Mahler: Symphony No. 1, Blumine [Hybrid SACD]
1.	Symphony No. 1 in D major ("Titan") 55:26
	Composed by Gustav Mahler
	Performed by Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
	Conducted by David Zinman
2.	Blumine ("Flora"), for orchestra (discarded movement from Symphony No. 1) 6:41
	Composed by Gustav Mahler
	Performed by Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
	Conducted by David Zinman

All Music Guide

Like many contemporary recordings of Gustav Mahler's "Symphony No. 1 in D major, Titan," this hybrid SACD from RCA includes a performance of the full symphony with the discarded movement "Blumine." It has become fashionable for conductors to insert this brief pastoral piece as a quiet interlude between the first and second movements, even though such a placement breaks momentum, undermines the symphony's structure, and ultimately goes against the wishes of the composer. Fortunately, David Zinman has taken a less invasive approach by including "Blumine" as an appendix, so listeners can still have the symphony as it is conventionally performed or program it as described above. Beyond that matter, this performance with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra is rather uncontroversial in approach, and the ensemble delivers the score with accuracy, follows accepted tempos, and meets expectations in the vivid characterization of the movements. Occasionally, odd details pop out that remind one that this is a multichannel recording with DSD sound that captures almost everything, but Zinman hasn't turned this performance into a sonic spectacular, per se. If anything, the emphasis is placed on musicality instead of on showing off the orchestra's chops, and there is very little exaggeration for the sake of dazzling audiophiles. While this may not be the greatest recording of the "Symphony No. 1" ever made, it certainly is a respectable rendition, and the exceptional sound quality certainly makes it an attractive package. Blair Sanderson

Gramophone

This interpretation of Mahler's First Symphony is freshly conceived and remarkably light on its feet.... There's also a real feeling of spontaneity. Andrew Farach-Colton

BBC Music Magazine

A sane, humane account of the First Symphony's 'days of youth'. David Nice

Philadelphia Inquirer

In no other modern reading of the Symphony No. 1 are the disparate elements - ethnic and otherwise - given their due but kept balanced with each other with so much dynamic tension. David Patrick Stearns

BBC Online

Very fine indeed.... It’s one of the finest new Mahler recordings I’ve heard in a while (and there’ve been so many). Bring on the Resurrection. Andrew McGregor

The Guardian

[Zinman's] performance is notably clear and well integrated; all the elements in the atmospheric introduction to the first movement are perfectly placed and the recording has a huge dynamic range. Andrew Clements