“Defiance, Protest, Resistance, & Remembrance”
May 14-18, 2025
Using Mahler's Sixth Symphony as a starting point, we explore these themes with a deep dive that will include Korngold's Symphony, Totenfeier, and an opera by Ulmmann written in Theresienstadt.
"[T]he Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra punches appreciably above its weight in music which should never fall prey to wanton virtuosity."
"There have been too many superfluous Mahler cycles, but this traversal is shaping up as one of the most worthwhile."
From donated cars to concert sponsorships, there are a variety of ways to help us celebrate the life and music of Gustav Mahler. Whether you want to name an orchestra chair, include MahlerFest in your estate planning, give monthly, or make a small donation today we greatly appreciate your support.
A review of our recording from May 2023 published at Arcana.fm
"[T]he Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra punches appreciably above its weight in music which should never fall prey to wanton virtuosity."
"There have been too many superfluous Mahler cycles, but this traversal is shaping up as one of the most worthwhile."
"Woods directed his orchestra with precision and passion throughout. The climax of that third movement, an incredibly tricky moment featuring trumpets that emerge as if they were proclaiming the opening of heaven’s gate, was majestic and pristine. Guest concertmaster Alan Snow was visually and aurally arresting in the “demonic” violin solo of the second movement. And of course, Fredrick was sublime."
Blog by Joseph Horowitz
"Introducing the Meistersinger Overture at a pre-concert talk, Woods highlighted a salient feature of Wagner’s inexhaustible opera: its celebration of cultural community. And this, finally, is what the Colorado Mahlerfest is about. As with last year’s memorable reading of the Resurrection Symphony, the audience for Mahler’s Fourth was strikingly inter-generational, including local families for whom Mahlerfest is an annual ritual."
"Kenneth Woods and his orchestra bring off the darker, primeval episodes very convincingly."
"[I]n this performance we experience a colourful, exciting cavalcade... I felt drawn into this performance"
"The orchestra plays this demanding symphony very well indeed, rising to all the many challenges that Mahler throws their way."
