Robert Dick conducted his symphony orchestra of over ninety players in just one work which lasted 95 minutes. It was a mammoth performance extraordinarily well executed. Gustav Mahler died one hundred years ago and The Orchestra of the Canongait was payings its tribute.
Gustav Mahler’s Ninth was his final symphony and which he did not live to hear performed. There are four substantial movements and much of the time the orchestra was in full flow with just about every intrument playing away. And then there are just a few quiter scenes.
Much is written about Mahler’s motives at this stage in his life. He knew he was ill and would die before long. Experts read a great deal of this in the composition but for me that would have been a detraction. Rather it was a fine example in the passage of music of a symphony written one hundred years ago.
I imagine Robert Dick was exhausted after keeping a tight and demonstrative control of a wonderful cross-section of players, professional, semi professional, students and amateurs who continue to enhance The Orchestra of the Canongait’s fine reputation. They deserved the appause.
Event: Sunday 14 August 2011, 7.30pm