Ken Takaseki,The Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra - Mahler: Symphony No. 9 - Japan CD Limited Edition

Credits:

Ken Takaseki,The Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra

Description:

Ken Takaseki & Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra project No.3. The third project by Ken Takaseki and the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra. The latest work of the same duo, following Bruckner: Symphonies No. 5 and No. 8, is an evolved version of Mahler's image. The latest live performance from the subscription concert on March 26, 2022! Following the first release of "Bruckner: Symphony No. 8" in March 2021 and "Bruckner: Symphony No. 5" in January 2022, which were jointly produced by the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Brain, and Tower Records, the third and latest release is now available. The third release is a recording from the 350th subscription concert held on March 26, 2022, and is the duo's first Mahler concert. This is Mr. Takaseki's second recording of "No. 9," following Mahler's second and seventh symphonies. The previous recording was made more than 20 years ago with a different orchestra, but this latest recording is a synergistic effect of Mr. Takaseki's deep reading of the work, careful preparation, and enthusiastic performance with the orchestra, resulting in a wonderful performance. The impression of the full house audience on the day of the concert was widely spread after the concert, and the recording has been eagerly awaited for release. Although there are now more Mahler recordings by Japanese orchestras, especially of this special 9th, than ever before, the strong sympathy for the music and the fact that, as Mr. Takaseki himself mentions in his commentary, he requested the International Mahler Society for a copy of the original manuscript and further deliberation prior to this performance were reflected in the recording. It is interesting to note that the performance reflects the results of this study.The details are given in the commentary, so I won't go into them here, but I think it is important to point out that the composer's first priority was to understand the composer's intentions from the score, and he made many adjustments based on the latest Rattz revision before taking on the challenge of this performance. As we all know, Mr. Lutz's earnest attitude toward the music is embodied in his previous recordings, but in this Mahler performance, it can be said that the strong bond between the two musicians over many years enhances the perfection of the performance on the day. The Tokyo City Philharmonic also recorded a live performance of the same piece with the recently departed Taijiro Iimori (November 14, 2008) on a different label, also in Opera City, so it would be interesting to compare the two recordings. The various changes between the two recordings and the differences between the conductors will be an intriguing factor for record fans. The recordings were made by Hiroshima-based Brain Corporation, which has an established reputation for its recordings. Ltd., which has extensive experience in recording live performances (Bruckner Symphonies No. 4, No. 5, and No. 7 with Tatsuya Shimono and the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra are also being released under the same effort), so the excellent sound quality of this recording is also a pleasure to listen to. ＜This CD is a live recording of the 350th subscription concert of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra held on March 26, 2022. The concert attracted a full house and was followed by a powerful curtain call that lasted long after the performance. In the seven years since the master conductor Ken Takaseki assumed the position of permanent conductor, the Tokyo City Philharmonic has evolved remarkably. The precision of the ensemble and the brilliance of its sound have increased dramatically, and in recent years, the entire orchestra has been filled with an eagerness to express itself.Mahler's No. 9 is fresh and tight, with an extremely precise approach and an orchestra that responds to it beautifully (the solos on each instrument are also outstanding). This is a masterful performance that truly demonstrates the duo's full potential, and at the same time, a foundation for further expansion. Katsuhiko Shibata (music critic)