An Orchestral Odyssey: The Boston Philharmonic's Mahler, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff Concert Series
The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra invites music lovers on a transcendent journey through the works of Mahler, Debussy, Walton, and Rachmaninoff. With Benjamin Zander at the helm, this series brings the emotive depth of Mahler's symphonies and the innovative spirit of Debussy's compositions to life. From the tumultuous emotions of Mahler’s Sixth Symphony to the apocalyptic grandeur of his Second, and the lyrical beauty of Walton and Rachmaninoff’s creations, this concert series promises to be a memorable exploration of orchestral mastery.
The BPYO performed Mahler’s troubled, turbulent Sixth Symphony some years ago, and the brilliance and emotional depth of that performance is preserved in a spectacular commercial recording of the event. It is truly hard to believe that a youth orchestra—ANY youth orchestra—could plumb the turbulent depths of this great symphony—and yet they will do it again. You won't want to miss this!
There is nothing like Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. It is an apocalyptic work requiring vast forces: a giant orchestra, as well as an organ, chorus, two soloists and multiple offstage musicians. Mahler poses the great questions of life and provides heart-stopping answers. In the finale the earth quakes, graves burst open, the last trumpet sounds, and a heavenly choir reassures all humankind: "Rise again, yes, thou shalt rise again." Of the culminating moments Mahler wrote: "A feeling of overwhelming love fills us with blissful knowledge and illuminates our existence."
Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, is—to only a slightly lesser degree than The Rite of Spring—a work that revolutionized music around the beginning of the 20th century, with its gossamer textures, subtle voluptuousness and elusive harmonies. Sixty-seven years ago Walton's Cello Concerto premiered in Symphony Hall with the legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. BPYO alum Leland Ko, recent first prize winner of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) Competition, will bring it home again, with his richly lyrical tone and virtuosic flair. Maestro Zander says of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, "It overflows with love. From its first notes, emotion-drenched themes well up in an unstoppable flood, all clothed in Rachmaninoff's most gorgeous orchestration."
As the final notes of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 fade into silence, the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra will have completed a remarkable journey through some of orchestral music's most stirring works. This concert series stands as a testament to the enduring relevance and power of classical music, brought to life by the exceptional talents of Benjamin Zander and his orchestra. The emotional and artistic depth explored in these performances promises to resonate long after the concerts have ended, affirming the transformative impact of music on our lives.
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