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Edo de Waart Conducts Mahler 4

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

Concert Hall

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Reviewed: January 20

Edo de Waart  delivered the third instalment of a projected Gustav Mahler cycle with the Hong Kong Philharmonic last Friday with a performance of Symphony No4.  A vision of heaven (despite  grotesque undertones), this  is the most  joyful of Mahler's symphonies,  although no easier to bring off than  any of his others.

Indeed, the score mercilessly exposed  the Philharmonic's shortcomings  such as crude  horn playing and an untidy string ensemble.  The orchestra  took time finding its feet in the first movement. De Waart then coached them through a safe, if sometimes lacklustre, journey.

That aside, he maintained a  clear texture throughout (although balance wasn't always precise), some of his rubato timings were marvellous, and the slow move-ment was marked by lyricism and impassioned climaxes. Guest concertmaster John Harding  elegantly interpreted death in his second movement solos.

Mahler requested a childlike voice for  the fourth movement, expressing a Catholic child's

idea of heaven - British soprano Geraldine McGreevy's mezzo-ish, bronzy tone might not have been ideal. For all her commitment, her interpretation  was mellow,  her articulation wasn't always  clear, and some high notes were reached with obvious effort. It

was similar with her renditions of

four orchestral songs by Richard Strauss,  although her passionate style was  appreciated.

That the Philharmonic has  improved  under de Waart was evident in Wagner's Siegfried Idyll.  The performance was beautiful  as a picture of pastoral bliss - although, for a work intended  as a birthday gift to the composer's wife, more intense and romantic expression would not have been amiss.



Edo de Waart Conducts Mahler 4