Mahler - Symphony No. 6 "Tragic" - Live from Boston Symphony Hall - Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra [2017]

DESCARGA (320 Kbps)

This performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 ("Tragic") by the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO), conducted by Benjamin Zander, was recorded live at Boston Symphony Hall on April 23, 2017. 

Recording and Release Details

Official Release: The live recording was released on July 2, 2017, as a 2-CD set on the Brattle Media label.

Orchestra: The performance featured 116 members of the BPYO.

Discussion Tracks: Typical of Zander's recordings, the album includes extensive discussion tracks where he analyzes each movement and the symphony's revisions. 

Performance Highlights

Critical Reception: The recording received high praise for its professional-level musicianship, with critics noting it rivaled fully professional outfits in precision and emotional depth.

Hammer Blows: Zander included all three hammer blows in the Finale, utilizing a large wooden crate struck with a mallet to achieve the "dull, ax-like sound" requested by Mahler.

Movement Order: Consistent with Zander's interpretive choices, the symphony is performed with the Scherzo placed second and the Andante third. 

Track Timings

The performance adhered closely to Mahler’s own suggested timings: 

I. Allegro energico, ma non troppo: ~23:10

II. Scherzo: ~12:00

III. Andante moderato: ~14:15

IV. Finale: ~30:00 

You can listen to or purchase the recording via the official Benjamin Zander website or on major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.

Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5 [2014]

DESCARGA (320 Kbps)

Benjamin Zander and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra released a critically acclaimed recording of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in November 2014. 

About the Recording

This album is known for its "bold and revelatory interpretation" that adheres faithfully to Shostakovich's original tempo markings, which Zander argues are often ignored in other recordings. 

Conductor's Note: Zander includes an introductory talk where he explains his interpretation. He asserts that when played at the correct, slower tempo indicated in the score, the symphony's finale transforms from a seemingly "joyful celebration" (as often performed at a faster speed) into a "scream of pain, a crying out against a relentless and inhuman force".

Orchestra: The performance features the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO), whose members were noted by The New York Times for playing with "a maturity and cohesion well beyond their years".

Context: The symphony itself was written in 1937 at a time when Shostakovich was under intense political pressure from Stalin's regime, and needed to produce a work that balanced artistic integrity with the need for official approval. 

Where to Listen

The album is available on various music platforms:

Spotify

Apple Music

Amazon Music