fjozn

Sunday, May 30, 2004

Gustav Mahler "Symphony No. 8"

No wonder they call it the "Symphony of a Thousand". I went into the hall last night expecting to sit in the 7th row (my tickets were G12, 13) and ended up sitting in the 3rd row. I totally forgotten they raised the platform to extend the stage. At times like this, I wished I had a camera-phone to take a photo. Anyway, I was like sooooooooooooooooooooooo near the sopranos! Their voices were so powerful. Even though the 1st soprano was having a cough, she still sounded very good. Her high notes: Wow!

Up till yesterday, I didn't know voices could be so powerful so up close. The Japanese mezzo-soprano really had a very strong voice. Her voice came packed with oomph! It's those kind of voices that pushes you back into your seat. I don't know how to describe it, you would have to hear it yourself to know!

Generally, it was quite a good and entertaining performance. When the full ensemble (extended orchestra, organ, offstage brasses, 6 choirs combined and 8 vocal soloists) was playing at full force, it was really quite deafening. It wasn't really a thousand yet, there was at most 500 plus performers on stage last night. I really wonder what the premiere was like with 1030 performers, including Mahler himself. It must have been so controversial and breath-taking at that time.

The last offstage soprano was like a bit underused. She had just a few lines in the 2nd movement (the symphony was in 2 movements only). She was the only one sitting in her chair in the finale, everyone else was playing. It was actually the first time I heard the organ at the Esplanade, maybe I should go listen to some organ concertos if I can.

It really makes me wished that SSO will play the Mahler 5 again soon! I still haven't had the chance to listen to it "live". Better still, Berlin Philharmonic could drop by Singapore for a tour! Haha!

This reminds me, anyone interested to go watch Gil Shaham (violinist) play Butterfly Lovers Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D in late August?

fjozn at 12:42 PM

f j o z n
my thoughts
Sunday, May 30, 2004 Gustav Mahler "Symphony No. 8" No wonder they call it the "Symphony of a Thousand". I went into the hall last night expecting to sit in the 7th row (my tickets were G12, 13) and ended up sitting in the 3rd row. I totally forgotten they raised the platform to extend the stage. At times like this, I wished I had a camera-phone to take a photo. Anyway, I was like sooooooooooooooooooooooo near the sopranos! Their voices were so powerful. Even though the 1st soprano was having a cough, she still sounded very good. Her high notes: Wow! Up till yesterday, I didn't know voices could be so powerful so up close. The Japanese mezzo-soprano really had a very strong voice. Her voice came packed with oomph! It's those kind of voices that pushes you back into your seat. I don't know how to describe it, you would have to hear it yourself to know! Generally, it was quite a good and entertaining performance. When the full ensemble (extended orchestra, organ, offstage brasses, 6 choirs combined and 8 vocal soloists) was playing at full force, it was really quite deafening. It wasn't really a thousand yet, there was at most 500 plus performers on stage last night. I really wonder what the premiere was like with 1030 performers, including Mahler himself. It must have been so controversial and breath-taking at that time. The last offstage soprano was like a bit underused. She had just a few lines in the 2nd movement (the symphony was in 2 movements only). She was the only one sitting in her chair in the finale, everyone else was playing. It was actually the first time I heard the organ at the Esplanade, maybe I should go listen to some organ concertos if I can. It really makes me wished that SSO will play the Mahler 5 again soon! I still haven't had the chance to listen to it "live". Better still, Berlin Philharmonic could drop by Singapore for a tour! Haha! This reminds me, anyone interested to go watch Gil Shaham (violinist) play Butterfly Lovers Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D in late August? fjozn at 12:42 PM
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