I still reckon that last year's performance of the Second in Singapore by the Orchestra of the Music Makers was, in its special way, the most exciting of them all and, as luck would have it, I've been afforded the rare luxury of being able to go back to the review I wrote after their live performance and reconsider it. They have brought out the performance, taken live and with no obvious editing, on CD. I have to say I sat down and listened to it with a certain trepidation; when you review a live performance you don't always want your words thrown back in your face. Yet, if anything, I understated the case. True, I missed the near-catastrophic opening of the Urlicht - but then that's such a terribly difficult entry that very few ever do get it totally right - and wind intonation did falter rather more than I had first suggested. But I also missed the incredible tautness and visionary sense of architecture Chan Tze Law brought to the performance. I was so bowled over by the orchestra's playing, that I forgot about the interpretation. And I apologise, now, that a truly inspirational reading of this mighty score was, perhaps, not as highly praised then as it should have been.
Nevertheless, for those who missed the original post, you'll find it at http://drmarcrochester.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/mahler-mania/
and I stand by every word!
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