Nicholas Collon conductor
RCM Symphony Orchestra
Mahler Symphony no 9
'Finely articulated playing, near-flawless ensemble, and a sense of occasion that was a delight' – Critics' Circle on the RCM Symphony Orchestra
Charismatic conductor Nicholas Collon directs the RCM Symphony Orchestra in Mahler’s Symphony no 9 – his last complete symphony.
This deeply moving work is characterised by its poignant tone; the Austrian summer light that infused Mahler’s earlier music has attenuated to a sliver of wintry sunshine, illuminating the past as the shadows lengthen. Alban Berg wrote that the first movement is a valedictory ’expression of an exceptional fondness for this earth, the longing to live in peace on it, to enjoy nature to its depths’.
This symphony, from the end of Mahler’s life, is contrasted with a pre-concert performance of one of his earliest works and only surviving chamber piece: the Piano Quartet. Composed when Mahler was a teenager, the Piano Quartet shows the influence of Brahms, Schubert and Robert Schumann.
This performance will be streamed live. To watch, please subscribe to the Royal College of Music’s YouTube channel and switch on notifications, or watch at www.rcm.ac.uk/live
Hear Mahler's Piano Quartet in A minor in a pre-concert performance at 6pm.
