Since this Maahler Seventh from Inb

Since this Maahler Seventh from Inbal is selling for semi-outrageous prices used, one wonders if the raves here at Amazon are justified. I think they dwell in the realm of fantasy. Denon always gives Inbal very natural, clear sonics, and his Frankfurt orchestra, though not superb, can certainly handle Mahler's considerable demands. But after its long-held reputation for murky difficulty, the Seventh has enjoyed any number of brilliant recordings (two from Bernstein, two from Abbado, one from Rattle) and others that display a high level of execution at the very least (Chailly, Boulez, two from Tilson Thomas) that far surpasses anything on this CD.Inbal seems by nature to be a relaxed, deliberate, at times cautious conductor of Mahler. His tempo for the first movement exhibits all those qualities. The pacing reminds me of Klemperer but without Klemperer's indisputable integrity, which was all but theological. Instead, Inbal creates a mysterious mood that he squanders through slack rhythm, indifferent ensemble, and lapses of concentration. The same holds true throughout the three middle movements. Without intensity and concentration, how are Mahler's extraordinary ideas to hit home? Here we get passing glances. Inbal summons more energy for the finale, but not much more. If Mahler is portraying a kind of jumbled carnival, Inbal hasn't arrived at the fair.