Mahler: Symphony No. 4 / Berlioz: Overture Le Corsaire

This BBC Legends release will appeal to lovers of both the conductor and the major work's composer: Because John Barbirolli made no commercial recording of Gustav Mahler's Fourth Symphony, this first release of his performance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on tour in Prague fills a gap in many Mahler collections and brings another treasure out of the vaults. This is a "warts-and-all" live recording, a single performance rather than an assemblage of the best parts of several. The result, therefore, is less "clean" than a studio recording would have been; there are cracked and flubbed notes here and there, but none intrudes upon the ear for more than a moment, particularly in light of Barbirolli's interpretation of the work. His grasp of its formal design and expressive depth translate into a performance of considerable interpretive power despite minor lapses of technique. Berlioz's 'Le Corsaire' might seem a slightly odd pairing for Mahler's symphony--particularly with its vigorous opening, which the orchestra tosses off with ease--yet it works well and reflects Barbirolli and the BBC's programming the Prague accurately rather than drawing filler from another concert.