Mahler Mania, Rebooted

Valentino · January 16, 2025, 11:54:45 PM

I cannot believe I wrote M3. It's M8. The big question is: Will 480 on stage do?

Roasted Swan · January 17, 2025, 01:51:11 AM

Quote from: Valentino on January 16, 2025, 11:54:45 PMI cannot believe I wrote M3. It's M8. The big question is: Will 480 on stage do?

As long as you suffer from double vision it will be fine........

LKB · January 17, 2025, 04:34:45 AM

Quote from: Roasted Swan on January 17, 2025, 01:51:11 AMAs long as you suffer from double vision it will be fine........

480 should be more than enough for M8.

Now, if the Berlioz Requiem was also on the program, say after intermission, they'd have to do a chamber version.

( What an amazing concept, pairing those two behemoths. Of course, no orchestra would ever agree to it. )

LKB · January 28, 2025, 06:52:25 AM

Last night was our fourth rehearsal for the Resurrection. The orchestra's conductor led us for the first time, and wasted no time picking the nits he felt had to be addressed. But he also complimented us when it was warranted, and I found myself wishing I could have played for him, back in the day.

Next week we're with the orchestra, and will be for the remaining rehearsals.

I've been able to make myself useful beyond singing the baritone part in the score. This is quite gratifying, as I've had this music internalized for a very long time and am keenly interested in our performance's success.

In a few more weeks it will all be over - most likely my last experience singing the Resurrection. And that will be fine, I'll be ok with it, as long as it comes off well.

Valentino · January 28, 2025, 11:11:46 AM

That M8 from Bergen was a very good experience in the cinema. I have no clue if it will do the rounds internationally, be released on Blu-ray or whatever.

Next up M3 (yes, actually M3) with the Oslo Philharmonic late March.

Der lächelnde Schatten · February 04, 2025, 01:16:51 PM

Quote from: Valentino on January 28, 2025, 11:11:46 AMThat M8 from Bergen was a very good experience in the cinema. I have no clue if it will do the rounds internationally, be released on Blu-ray or whatever.

Next up M3 (yes, actually M3) with the Oslo Philharmonic late March.

Very nice. Who is the conductor?

Valentino · February 04, 2025, 10:58:49 PM

Ah, sorry. It's Saraste.

LKB · February 05, 2025, 07:53:32 AM

Resurrection rehearsal #5 tonight, with the orchestra.

Must... remain... calm...

( I'll report back tomorrow.

)

Karl Henning · February 05, 2025, 07:54:46 AM

Quote from: LKB on January 28, 2025, 06:52:25 AMLast night was our fourth rehearsal for the Resurrection. The orchestra's conductor led us for the first time, and wasted no time picking the nits he felt had to be addressed. But he also complimented us when it was warranted, and I found myself wishing I could have played for him, back in the day.

Next week we're with the orchestra, and will be for the remaining rehearsals.

I've been able to make myself useful beyond singing the baritone part in the score. This is quite gratifying, as I've had this music internalized for a very long time and am keenly interested in our performance's success.

In a few more weeks it will all be over - most likely my last experience singing the Resurrection. And that will be fine, I'll be ok with it, as long as it comes off well.

Lovely. So glad for you!

Karl Henning · February 05, 2025, 07:55:58 AM

Quote from: LKB on February 05, 2025, 07:53:32 AMResurrection rehearsal #5 tonight, with the orchestra.

Must... remain... calm...

( I'll report back tomorrow. )

So great to sing with an orchestra!

DavidW · February 05, 2025, 08:33:30 AM

Quote from: LKB on February 05, 2025, 07:53:32 AMResurrection rehearsal #5 tonight, with the orchestra.

Must... remain... calm...

( I'll report back tomorrow. )

When I saw the M2 in concert, I remember they had trouble even fitting everyone on stage. Hopefully, your stage is large enough!

LKB · February 05, 2025, 10:15:42 PM

I had assumed that I'd be working tonight per my usual schedule, and had planned to post tomorrow. But as events transpired I'm actually at home tonight, and can report a bit sooner.

The orchestra is, for the most part, about where I expected it to be. I noted some missing percussion, such as the tam-tam strokes at the very end ( Mahler requires two tam-tams, high and low ), which were absent. Also, there was no organ and that also makes a difference. ( There will be an organ for the concert. )

Also, there was no off-stage brass while we were there, though I heard some players practicing that music afterward.

Their normal 1st trumpet was absent, and the substitute struggled a bit but when he played he had a good sound. In a volunteer community orchestra you cannot reasonably have the same expectations as you would for one of the top-tier pro ensembles, so none of the above shocked me.

Once we actually started singing, I had fun... probably too much, tbh.

Afterward, my director told me that he was really glad I was present. We're not really friends, so that took me aback a bit but I told him that I was really glad to be there, which was certainly the truth.

Now I must wait a week for the penultimate rehearsal. Dress rehearsal is three days after, and then the concert on Sunday the 16th. Here's a link for anyone in the Bay Area who might have an interest:

https://redwoodsymphony.org/concert/2025-02/

LKB · February 05, 2025, 10:27:56 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on February 05, 2025, 07:54:46 AMLovely. So glad for you!

Thanks Karl!

The Resurrection became a part of me in 1979, joining Mahler's 1st and 3rd as permanent tenants in my heart ( along with, of course, innumerable other musical works from other masters ).

In time the rest of Mahler's symphonies and song cycles would follow, but the Resurrection has remained special and very personal. ( If one might notice the text at the bottom of my signature, that comes from Resurrection. )

LKB · February 15, 2025, 05:24:13 PM

Today we had our final rehearsal for Resurrection. In less than twenty-four hours the performance will have been completed, and I'll be enjoying the privilege of a grand celebratory dinner with my two closest friends, who are also singing the concert.

For me, life simply does not get any better: Performing the most personally meaningful music, shared and celebrated with two of the most personally relevant people I've ever known.

I truly wish that all of you here could personally share in the experience.

brewski · February 15, 2025, 05:59:06 PM

Quote from: LKB on February 15, 2025, 05:24:13 PMToday we had our final rehearsal for Resurrection. In less than twenty-four hours the performance will have been completed, and I'll be enjoying the privilege of a grand celebratory dinner with my two closest friends, who are also singing the concert.

For me, life simply does not get any better: Performing the most personally meaningful music, shared and celebrated with two of the most personally relevant people I've ever known.

I truly wish that all of you here could personally share in the experience.

I hope you have a fantastic time — it sounds like you have, you are, and you will. It is an extraordinary piece, and no doubt, even more so when viewed "from the inside out." A few years ago, my sister was in the chorus when Osmo Vänskä did it with the Minnesota Orchestra. She had never heard the symphony before working on it, and said it was a profound experience, though she said the sopranos' high tessitura almost killed her.

Anyway, it's like nothing else, especially live, and I hope tomorrow is transcendent — including the festive dinner afterward. An ideal way to spend a day.

DavidW · February 16, 2025, 04:58:18 AM

Quote from: LKB on February 15, 2025, 05:24:13 PMI truly wish that all of you here could personally share in the experience.

I'm happy for you! It sounds like a truly amazing experience. That is not one that you should share with me... because I can't sing worth a damn!

relm1 · February 16, 2025, 05:31:02 AM

Quote from: LKB on February 15, 2025, 05:24:13 PMToday we had our final rehearsal for Resurrection. In less than twenty-four hours the performance will have been completed, and I'll be enjoying the privilege of a grand celebratory dinner with my two closest friends, who are also singing the concert.

For me, life simply does not get any better: Performing the most personally meaningful music, shared and celebrated with two of the most personally relevant people I've ever known.

I truly wish that all of you here could personally share in the experience.

Break a leg!

Valentino · February 16, 2025, 10:23:27 AM

Meanwhile over at Tracking Angle the review of the new vinyl only remaster of the Karajan M6 goes to eleven:
https://trackingangle.com/music/the-original-source-does-mahler-on-steroids
I ordered it in December...

LKB · February 16, 2025, 11:15:44 AM

Quote from: DavidW on February 16, 2025, 04:58:18 AMI'm happy for you! It sounds like a truly amazing experience. That is not one that you should share with me... because I can't sing worth a damn!

I would respectfully disagree, as there are at least a few in today's chorus who also can't sing worth a damn ( but they can donate, perform administrative duties, communicate or in other ways contribute to the welfare of the chorus... And none of those capabilities reside within my personal toolset

).

To put it another way: A victorious army needs excellent cooks as much as it needs superb soldiers.

LKB · February 16, 2025, 11:24:17 AM

Quote from: Valentino on February 16, 2025, 10:23:27 AMMeanwhile over at Tracking Angle the review of the new vinyl only remaster of the Karajan M6 goes to eleven:
https://trackingangle.com/music/the-original-source-does-mahler-on-steroids
I ordered it in December...

Von Karajan's M6 was my introduction to the work. I walked into the Classical section of the old Tower Records in Mt. View, CA ( where I would soon be employed ), and my best friend and Classical Clerk saw me and started it up. Without a doubt, he took pleasure in watching me become wide-eyed as I was thinking, "WTF is that!"