“Imagine that the Universe bursts into song. We
hear no longer human voices, but those of planets and
suns which revolve.” These were Mahler’s own words to the
revered Dutch conductor Willem Mengelberg on the subject of his
Eighth Symphony. Widely regarded as the crowning achievement
of his career, Mahler’s Symphony No.8 received overwhelming
recognition at its first performance in 1910. It is scored for a huge
orchestra (including quadruple woodwind with eight horns, as well
as mandolin, piano and harmonium), off-stage brass of four
trumpets and three trombones, eight soloists, a double symphonic
chorus, a boys’ choir and organ. In fact, at its first performance, the
impresario who mounted Mahler’s “Barnum and Bailey” work
(Mahler’s epithet) advertised it as “The Symphony of A
Thousand” owing to the fact that one thousand performers took
part. The work is in two parts: Part I is a stunning setting of the
Latin Hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus”; Part II is an intensely
dramatic setting of the final part of Goethe’s “Faust” which ends
with an hugely powerful, glorious and uplifting peroration.
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programmed, so the performance staged by the Guildford
Philharmonic Choir in Guildford Cathedral on 17 May 2003
will be a rare opportunity to hear the work performed in all its
magnificence. You may have been thrilled by the performance
given by Sir Simon Rattle at the Proms last year — if so, come and
be thrilled again. And if you came to the GPC’s memorable and
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you cannot fail but be elated by this work.
This will be a day to remember in the musical life of Guildford.
Don’t miss it!
MAHLER 8 COMES TO GUILDFORD
“Imagine that the Universe bursts into song. We hear no longer human
voices, but those of planets and suns which revolve.” These were Mahler’s
own words to the revered Dutch conductor Willem Mengelberg on the
subject of his Eighth Symphony. Widely regarded as the crowning achievement of his career, Mahler’s Symphony No.8 received overwhelming
recognition at its first performance in 1910. It is scored for a huge orchestra
(including quadruple woodwind with eight horns, as well as mandolin, piano
and harmonium), off-stage brass of four trumpets and three trombones, eight
soloists, a double symphonic chorus, a boys’ choir and organ. In fact, at its
first performance, the impresario who mounted Mahler’s “Barnum and
Bailey” work (Mahler’s epithet) advertised it as “The Symphony of A
Thousand” owing to the fact that one thousand performers took part. The
work is in two parts: Part I is a stunning setting of the Latin Hymn “Veni
Creator Spiritus”; Part II is an intensely dramatic setting of the final part of
Goethe’s “Faust” which ends with an hugely powerful, glorious and
uplifting peroration.
Because of the sheer scale and size of the work it is seldom programmed, so
the performance staged by the Guildford Philharmonic Choir in Guildford
Cathedral on 17 May next year will be a rare opportunity to hear the work
performed in all its magnificence. You may have been thrilled by the
performance given by Sir Simon Rattle at the Proms this year —if so, come —
and be thrilled again. And if you came to the GPC’s memorable and
exhilarating performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.2 in 1999, you cannot
fail but be elated by this work.
This will be a day to remember in the musical life of Guildford.
Don’t miss it!