Hearing a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 (over 70 minutes duration and consisting of five long movements without an intermission) is a bit like reading an epic-sized Edwardian novel with lots of subplots and miscellaneous characters encountered briefly, who later turn out not to be at all important to the story. Mahler’s Fifth is a complicated symphony, which is challenging both for the orchestra players and for the audience — to perform it with only a few rehearsals is indeed a major accomplishment. There was a special significance to the selection of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. Just as the Monterey Symphony is celebrating its 65th Anniversary this season, this performance of Mahler highlights the 150th Anniversary of his birth and the 100th Anniversary of his death.
We are talking about the Monterey Symphony’s last concert of the season as heard yesterday afternoon at Sunset Center. Maestro Max Bragado-Darman pulled out all the stops, called in some extra players and filled Sunset Center’s stage from one corner to the other. It was so crowded on stage Maestro Max practically had to weave his way through the players like a quarterback on a football field just to get to the podium. But, get there he did, and he succeeded in coordinating all the players with ease to create such an impressive performance that the audience responded at its conclusion with a standing ovation and lots of bravos.
The printed program for today’s concert gives the dates for the 2011-2012 season (and reminds us that to retain your current seats you have to renew no later than May 31). However, it doesn’t reveal next season’s programs, so we don’t know at this point who the soloists will be, whether there will be any guest conductors, and lastly whether there will be special performances, or perhaps a commissioned new work. We will be looking forward to the 66th season to see what surprises it will bring.
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