Bernard Haitink - Mahler: Symphony No. 8

Beethoven was the first composer who – in the Finale of his Symphony No. 9 – dared to introduce the human voice into what had been up until then the purely instrumental "absolute music" of the symphonic genre, thus radically doing away with existing theories. Other composers imitated him, in the process making use of the expanded forms in the direction of the symphonic cantata. Mahler also put his money on the human voice in his Symphony No. 2 and in his Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4, it also played a major role, supplying as it did additional significance to the moment. After his purely instrumental Symphonies Nos. 5-7, Mahler yet again made a powerful return in his Symphony No. 8 to the vocally conceived symphony. Mahler himself described his Symphony No. 8 in E flat as his crowning work. At first glance, the form of the work might remind one more of a cantata than a symphony. However, if one takes a closer look, it becomes clear that both movements have been constructed in complete accordance with symphonic criteria.

"It's the one Mahler symphony Haitink had reservations about performing, but this is great conducting. Pentatone's remastering represents a subtle improvement, and as the first transfer from Philips' 1971 quadraphonic tapes, offers genuine rear channel information." – Hi-Fi News