Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4-6; Klaus Mäkelä, conductor; Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Decca 485 4637.
I'll be honest: I've had to force myself to give Klaus Mäkelä fair hearings. I wasn't at all impressed with his dubious Sibelius symphony cycle, released on Decca in 2022. Then, when I heard he landed the Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director gig earlier this year, I was sorry that more deserving (though perhaps less handsome or well connected) candidates for this prominent position got passed over. But a responsible critic doesn't evaluate new music-making through the lens of prior disapproval. Thus resolved, I listened diligently to what may be his first recording in a new Shostakovich symphony cycle. I'm glad I did, because for the most part it's quality stuff.
That said, I'm probably not the best person to evaluate this performance of the Fourth. Hearing the work many times with different performers has done nothing to mitigate my dislike of it. I still think it's a self-indulgent mess that goes on for too long and offers poor thematic invention. Nonetheless, my general impression is that Mäkelä leads a decent effort, though it lacks a certain sharpness you find in the energetic takes by Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra (MAR0545), and Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Naxos 8.573188). If the Fourth is your cup of tea, I suspect you will prefer these other performances. But for me the present option is perfectly serviceable.
The Fifth is Shostakovich's most popular symphony, with many excellent recordings available. Mäkelä's account isn't bad, but it lacks just a bit of conviction while being slightly inconsistent. The opening sounds labored when it should be arresting and create an air of mystery. I also need an edgier sarcasm in the scherzo than he's able to provide. The final two movements are best. The string playing is lovely in the Largo, which helps to create a suitably dreamy atmosphere. Then, Mäkelä leads a sharp and exciting finale that perhaps misses just a touch of magic. But all in all it's a solid reading that holds up well.
I think I read somewhere that Mäkelä's favorite Shostakovich symphony is the Sixth. I have a special fondness for it as well, as I say here. It could certainly use more champions, and Mäkelä proves to be a very adept one. The big opening Largo is very well controlled, and comes off appreciably grim. This span should be an emotionally exhausting experience to open a symphony; Mäkelä & Co. duly deliver. Nor does he let the quality flag for the peppier remainder of the work. This is one of the best No. 6 second movements I have ever heard on recording, with a wonderful sense of whimsy and orchestral colors that seem to jump out of your speakers. The finale (one of my absolute FAVORITES in any classical composition) is fast, but not TOO fast. It's exhilarating without being allowed to spin out of control, à la Gergiev. Mäkelä seems to have found his musical spirit animal here.
Klaus Mäkelä is young, and his discography is still very small. But already we're seeing signs that he's finding music matching his temperament. For some reason we expect that a Finnish conductor will naturally be good at performing Sibelius. All Finns inevitably feel the cultural weight of their great national master. But what I've heard suggests that Mäkelä's affinities lie more with Russian musical aesthetics. I'm eager to see what he does with the other Shosty symphonies. If those turn out well, maybe he'll move on to Prokofiev, then Weinberg, then Glazunov.... But now I'm getting ahead of myself. On balance this is a solid start to a Shostakovich cycle. Former disappointments aside, I'm rooting for the rest to be at least as good.
Recommended, especially for the Sixth Symphony
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