GUSTAV MAHLER

PROGRAMME
GUSTAV MAHLER
Symphony No. 2 in C minor  

PERFORMERS 
Conductor YOEL GAMZOU
Soprano MARIE SMOLKA
Mezzo-soprano BETH TAYLOR

Chorus and Orchestra of the Polish National Opera 

It would be hard to find a more fitting piece for a season opening concert than Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor. Its omnipresent symbolic allusions to resurrection can be aptly summed up by the words of Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock’s hymn Die Auferstehung: ‘You shall rise, yes, you shall rise from the dead’ (Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n wirst du). Light emerges from the darkness; the end becomes a new beginning.

Interestingly, the history of this work is intertwined with its message. In 1888,  impressed by a German translation of Adam Mickiewicz’s Dziady (Forefathers' Eve), Mahler composed the symphonic poem Totenfeier (Funeral Rites). This majestic funeral march became the seed of a larger symphonic work, which the composer completed in Hamburg, where he was the principal conductor of the  Staatsoper from 1891. During the funeral of his great predecessor in this post, Hans von Bülow, in 1894 Mahler heard Klopstock’s hymn and completed his Second Symphony inspired by its poignant message. The work was first performed in 1895 at the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of its composer.

The piece takes the listener on a journey through extreme musical emotions. Following the poignant Totenfeier (Allegro maestoso), the composer seems to contemplate the meaning our fleeting life. In the subsequent movements, he sinks ever deeper into melancholy: in the Andante moderato, he introduced a light Ländler to evokes memories of a happy life; the scherzo In ruhig fließender Bewegung is harmonious and almost banal in expression; Urlicht conveys a desire to escape the meaninglessness of earthly life. Eventually, these increasingly intense emotions give way to the spectacular In Tempo des Scherzos, which brings together themes from the first and third movements, offering hope for a new life and a new beginning.

The composer entrusted the demanding task of conveying these emotional contrasts to a large symphony orchestra, a chorus, and a soprano and an alto. Mahler set the performers a challenging task, requiring a specialised approach from both the soloists and the conductor. Fortunately, Yoel Gamzou, who is just beginning his tenure as Music Director of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, is a world-renowned interpreter of this work. He will be joined by two phenomenal artists: soprano Marie Smolka, who has won numerous awards for her discography, and contralto Beth Taylor, now taking the world’s stages by storm. Will their Resurrection fulfil the promise of rebirth?