Korngold: Symphony in F Sharp; Einfache Lieder; Mariettas Lied

This account from Welser-Most and the Philadelphia Orchestra lacks imagination and is disappointingly recorded. The conductor's approach does little to bring out the score's changing emotional landscape, or to convey a sense of trajectory across four tightly argued movements. The Philadelphians exhibit wonderful ensemble in the machine- gun staccatos that punctuate the first two movements, and respond heroically to the power of Korngold's writing in the dirge-like Adagio. But overall they seem to be plodding through unfriendly territory. EMI provides thuddy, dry, studio-ish sound that is light in the bass and poorly balanced, making the violins sound undernourished. --Ted Libbey