A rare opportunity to experience Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony with a chamber orchestra.
Gustav Mahler composed Symphony No. 4 in G major between 1899–1901. Originally written for soprano and large orchestra, but without trombones and tuba, this evening you will hear it performed by a chamber orchestra.
Mahler’s Fourth, also called the “Wunderhorn Symphony,” is a kind of ode to joy – both in this life and the afterlife. The main theme of the first movement is solemnly presented by the violins, with a lyrical side theme in the cello. The second movement is subtitled "Friend Hein Plays," referring to a figure from German folklore representing death, but here it is portrayed kindly. Mahler may have intended the third movement to depict paradise.
Motifs from the first two movements reappear here. Most striking is the E major interlude that introduces the final movement, Wunderhorn-Lieder, taken from the folk poetry collection Des Knaben Wunderhorn. After a brief introduction in the final movement, the soprano sings “Das himmlische Leben” ("The Heavenly Life"), the last song in the collection and the foundation for the entire symphony.
In the Kammerfest i Valen series, you will hear musicians from the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (SSO) performing music they have personally chosen. Usually, the audience sits around the musicians on stage and on the choir balcony, but for this evening, the audience will be seated in the usual seats due to the large ensemble.
PROGRAM
Gustav Mahler (1860–1911):
Symphony No. 4 in G major for chamber orchestra (1899) – 55 minutes.
PERFORMERS
Omer Shteinhart, conductor
Aya Muraki, violin
Maja Vagner, violin
Yauheniya Mazynskaya, viola
Marcus Michelin, cello
José Moreira, double bass
Kristin Hammerseth, flute
Yurie Aramaki, oboe
Ben Aldren, clarinet
Johannes Herjö, bassoon
Barkin Sönmezer, horn
Mark Sjipkens, percussion
Odd Kyrre Alsvik, percussion
Ida Mo Schanche, piano
Nils Henrik Asheim, harmonium
Soprano (to be announced)
Duration: Approx. 1 hour
Organizer: Stavanger Symphony Orchestra