Saturday 9th December 2017 at 7.30pm
St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich
Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra
Matthew Andrews conductor
Mahler: Symphony No.9 in D major
For its next concert at St Andrew’ Hall, Norwich, on 9th December, the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra continues its acclaimed Mahler cycle with the deeply moving 9th Symphony, the composer’s last complete symphony.
It follows the Phil’s performances in recent years of the 1st, 2nd and 5th symphonies and – perhaps most memorably in 2016 – of the 8th Symphony. As the climax of its 175th anniversary celebrations, the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, augmented by musicians and choirs from across Norfolk, gave a memorable account of Mahler’s epic ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival in May of last year, bringing almost 2,000 people to their feet at the Showground Arena, converted in to a huge concert hall especially for the event.
Alban Berg described Mahler’s 9th Symphony as ‘a vision of the hereafter’. As the ailing composer mourned his daughter’s untimely death and approached his own, the symphony is a meditation on mortality, transfused with awe at the beauty and wonder of life. Mahler bids farewell to his beloved nature with music that stirs the deepest emotions but which is at the same time overwhelmingly life-affirming.
The 9th Symphony is not on the same vast scale as the 8th but its extraordinarily intricate writing is on a completely different level – a huge challenge for the talented players of the Phil. It promises to be a very special musical experience and, judging by the sell-outs of our previous Mahler performances, fans of the composer will want to book early to ensure they get a ticket for a rare opportunity to hear this wonderful music live.
Tickets are priced from £11 to £17 (under 26s £7) and are available from St. George’s Music Shop, 17-19 St. George’s Street, Norwich, Tel. 01603 626414, or online at www.norwichphil.org.uk.
Photo Paul Hirst
