https://seenandheard-international.com/2017/04/an-unforgettable-mahler-8-from-jurowski-and-the-lpo/#more-70622
in which he says, "Once underway though, the Mahler Symphony was given a splendid performance. Initially there seemed to be a Solti-like relentless drive to Jurowski’s way, coupled with an underlying lyricism. A contradiction in terms? Well, it worked. Which is more than can be said for the chorus redistributing itself mid-movement, like a huge colony of ants caught up in a ninth-century-hymn-meets-Mahler maelstrom."
thereby confirming your recollection and my observation, it seems.
Ralph Moore's review mentions initial problems with the sound on this recent recording. As one of the LPC choristers involved who also took part in the performance of Spem in Alium that led - attacca - into the symphony, I may have the explanation. In order to achieve a degree of surround sound for the Tallis, a large number of singers were strung out along the side terraces, some as far back as the walkway between front and rear stalls. The improvement probably coincides with those singers' taking their normal seats for the Mahler later in the movement. I can't say for sure as I haven't acquired the recording; I've quite enough Mahler already!
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