Last night I had the privilege of attending a performance of the Mahler 9th by the Arizona State University Symphony under guest conductor Karina Canellakis. She is an assistant conductor in Dallas and has done a lot of work all over the world. Maybe not now, but she will be a Mahler conductor of note in the future. I was amazed how this student orchestra played - sure there were a few gaffs, but the pros have problems, too. But it was exciting, moving, thrilling, and gut-wrenching at times. The conductor had a clear-headed approach to the score and built climaxes masterfully. And, she was able to produce a huge dynamic range, which is usually a challenge for amateurs. The only quibble was the 2nd movement was too fast - even at the beginning.
But it was the final page that made this so memorable. True pianissimos, beautiful balance in the string sections. The violas, who basically get the last word in, were somehow very poignant. But then comes the last chord. Being a violinist herself, the conductor brought the symphony to a peaceful quiet close that just faded into nothingness - like it should. Then she held the baton, the orchestra didn't move and the silence went on for 30-40 seconds. It was breathtaking. There wasn't a sound. No one clapped, talked, or even coughed. I think the audience responded to Mahler the way they should: they were deeply moved. It was a great experience. The ASU Symphony should be very proud. And learn the name: Karina Canellakis. You'll be hearing from her in the future.
So once again my theory on Mahler is confirmed: you don't need to have a world-class orchestra and a big-name conductor to make Mahler great. All you need is dedication, basic competence, and a vision: Mahler provides the rest.
Topic: A Student Orchestra Mahler 9th (Read 4208 times)