Mahler / Berlin Philharmonic / Haitink (Philps, studio recordings0

Hypothesis: Haitink's 'restraint', 'integrity', 'good taste' work well in Mahler. I'm testing this now on the basis of his studio recordings of symphonies 1,2,3,5,6,7 with the Berlin Philharmonic. No. 1 sounds just right, as it were: unmannered, refined, expressive—not dull at all.
Unfortunately, No. 2 (which I sort of liked twenty years ago) does not clearly confirm my hypothesis. Movements 3-5 are mostly OK -― the finale is too much for me anyway, I find it pompous -―, but the first two are slow and dull. Is this good music or kitsch? Haitink makes a strong case for kitsch.
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Roland van Gaalen
The Netherlands