First Performance of Mahler Ninth Symphony in Vietnam

[mike bosworth]

The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra turned in a fine rendition of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony last Friday night at the Hanoi Opera House.  This orchestra has certainly come a long way in the 4 1/2 years since their Mahler cycle began.  Under the leadership of Maestro T. Honna, the orchestra has refreshed its personnel and honed its skills.  Its overall confidence level was likely given a further boost by recent appearances at Carnegie Hall and Symphony Hall in New York and Boston respectively.

For M9 the VNSO was supplemented by four Norwegian guest musicians (bass trombone, bassoon, English horn, assistant concertmaster).  The two excellent Japanese harpists who have appeared throughout the cycle played clearly and beautifully.  In the dirge following the final climax in the first movement 3 suspended metal plates served as the ‘tiefe Glocken’.  Not sure if this was exactly what Mahler had in mind, but the rather exotic sound cut through clearly and effectively. 

My major quibble on the night was that the pause between the first and second movements was far too brief.  It seems that after the high drama of the epic first movement, the 2nd movement is at a major disadvantage unless there is much more time for the audience to gather and re-settle themselves (well, at least that’s the case with me).  Afterwards Maestro Honna told me that the two middle movements had been the most challenging for him and the orchestra to prepare; I would agree that this came across in the performance, although not to a great extent.

Once again the tiny opera house was not full, at most 400 in the audience, of which at least half were expatriates and foreign tourists.  The small band of ever present scalpers outside the doors was not having much luck on the night (the performance was being filmed, so there may be a chance of some local TV exposure down the line).  I haven’t heard any reports on the second performance which took place on Saturday night.

Those who were present were very attentive and even remained quiet for a few seconds at the end of the symphony, which is almost unheard of here.  Conductor and orchestra received a series of well-deserved ovations afterwards.

The VNSO Mahler Cycle will conclude next year with performances of the 7th Symphony and DLvdE.

Mike Bosworth
Hanoi

[waderice]

Mike, this is interesting.  Last year (or was it two years ago?) you announced here the first performance of M8 in Vietnam, and now, M9.  Do you have knowledge of the first performance dates of the rest of the symphonies in Vietnam?  Which ones have yet to be performed?

Wade

[mike bosworth]

Wade,

Please go to the Mahler Concert Calendar site maintained by the IGMG, select "country", and then select "Vietnam":

http://www.gustav-mahler.org/mahler/concerts-f-e.cfm

Here you will see the dates for the symphonic performances that have taken place thus far during the VNSO Mahler Cycle.  All of these were Vietnam premières with the exception of M1 and M4.  The premières of M7 and Das Lied are scheduled to take place in 2012, concluding the Cycle.  That will leave only the full M10 and Das klagende Lied as still unperformed 'major' Mahlerian works in the country.  LefG also premièred earlier this year in Hanoi, and I was told that a group of visiting Chinese professors recently played the Piano Quartet Movement in a closed performance for students of the Music Academy/Conservatory.

FYI,

Mike Bosworth
Hanoi

Last year (or was it two years ago?) you announced here the first performance of M8 in Vietnam, and now, M9.  Do you have knowledge of the first performance dates of the rest of the symphonies in Vietnam?  Which ones have yet to be performed?