Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony
November 14, 2009, 7:30 pm → Great Hall, GBPAC, Cedar Falls
Mahler – Symphony no. 5
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WCFSO did wonderful job with Mahler’s Fifth
by George F. Day
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
November 19, 2009
The landmark concert the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra performed last weekend in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center was an overpowering experience. It was devoted to a thorough exploration of an imposing work by a great composer: the Fifth Symphony of Gustav Mahler. The piece was written in the first years of the 20th century and ever since has created a gigantic challenge for any orchestra and conductor who have decided to perform it.
Jason Weinberger, WCFSO music director, designed a remarkably unique format in which to present Mahler’s Fifth. It was the only work of the evening, and the first half was given over to an illustrative analysis of Mahler and his symphony. The maestro himself lectured, the orchestra played excerpts of key passages, section leaders commented and the audience participated. All of this created a greater understanding and appreciation of Mahler’s work.
The second half of the bill was the orchestra’s overwhelming reading of the work. Conductor and players joined forces in bringing out all the power and beauty of the score, which is filled with conflict, contrasts, force, and, yes, excess as well. The Fifth Symphony contains many different emotions, and these were admirably summed up by Bruno Walter who wrote of the work that it includes “music that is passionate, wild, pathetic, buoyant, solemn, tender, full of all the sentiments of which the human heart is capable.”
The orchestra was magnificent; Weinberger was inspired. Well-deserved solo bows were assigned to Randy Grabowski [trumpet] and Dan Malloy Jr. [horn]. But all sections deserved the highest praise for a job extraordinarily well done. The thunderous applause of the large audience indicated that they were well aware that they were fortunate to be present at an extraordinary occasion.
Note: All reviews are edited for length and spelling.
