Description

“…. the First Symphony was given a full-hearted and exuberant performance to close the festival on Sunday afternoon (May 19) at Macky Auditorium… The MahlerFest orchestra came through heroically as it always does in the audacious First Symphony.  Woods carefully paced the symphony’s famous “breakthroughs” (which provided the theme for the festival).  The ironic funeral march of the third movement was atmospheric, as was the buoyant second movement.  Woods prefaced the symphony with its original second movement, “Blumine,” which Mahler removed after the first performance.  Both were played from a new critical edition by Breitkopf & Härtel, the first time it has been used in any performance worldwide.”

“At the heart of that program on May 18 at Macky was Mahler’s song cycle Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer), which is closely connected with the First Symphony.  The cycle was performed in the interesting chamber orchestration by Arnold Schoenberg and sung by CU-Boulder alumnus and favorite local operatic performer Joshua DeVane.  DeVane’s interpretation was exciting, heart-rending, and passionate, displaying a keen understanding for the emotions in Mahler’s words and music.

Woods led the small ensemble deftly throughout the program…”

By Kelly Dean Hansen, Freelance Classical Music Writer

Recorded by Jonathan Galle. Edited and mastered by Tim Burton.

Please note – for environmental reasons, this item is not shrink-wrapped.

This album is also available as a mp3 and hifi digital download via Bandcamp