So there was The Rite of Spring this past weekend in Dallas, and again in Dallas this weekend is Mahler's Symphony no. 6. Things, my friends, just don't get any better than this.
I'm happy to report that conductor Jaap van Zweden puts the middle movements in the correct order--Scherzo, then Andante. (I was fretting about this for a while). I'm also equally chuffed to report that the maestro considers this symphony as one of his favorites, as you can read here, at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's blog. Of course, my opinion of van Zweden, which was already very high, skyrocketed after reading that entry.
There are some pieces in the repertoire that you just don't want to miss out on. This has got to be one of those works--it's simply so EPIC. Please, fellow Mahler 6 lovers--chime in, tell me you agree! From the marching entry to Alma's beautiful theme to cowbells to gut-wrenching beauty all throughout to utterly terrifying hammer blows to the world's most scary, depressing ending of a symphony---there is NOTHING forgettable about this symphony. I remember the first time I ever heard it live vividly. I remember the hammer blows (and how they made me cry) and the seconds leading up to them as if they just happened yesterday, and I know I'll never, ever forget them. I remember the peace I felt as the cowbells were played. Oh friends! I could keep going on and on about this work, but I'll shut up now. I urge you---if you live within driving distance of Dallas, or you don't but have lots of frequent flyer miles---please please please, find a way to get here to hear this performance. You've got, just like last week, an incredible composition played by an incredible orchestra under the direction of an incredible conductor.
What more could you ask for? See you in Dallas!
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