Mahler: Symphony No. 5

Refined rendition of an enigmatic symphony Following their critically acclaimed recording of Mahler's Fourth Symphony, the Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov continue their Pentatone Mahler cycle with a rendition of the composer's Fifth Symphony. The Fifth Symphony marks an important turning point in Mahler's symphonic output, away from the primacy of vocal movements in his earlier symphonies. And while the Fifth, like its predecessors, seems to follow a teleology from darkness to light, its course is much less straightforward and full of enigmatic twists and turns. Bychkov's exceptional eye for detail and tempo make him an ideal guide through this work, while the Czech Philharmonic is able to make all the colors of Mahler's score shine.