It has been quite a while since I last saw the Utah Symphony (at least for me) so I was very happy to end a long week back at Abravanel Hall with an incredible concert featuring Symphony No. 3 by Gustav Mahler. The Utah Symphony is performing the entire Mahler symphony cycle this season and next to commemorate their 75th anniversary and to honor the legacy of Maurice Abravanel. I am not very familiar with Mahler but I am starting to really appreciate his work (Symphony No. 1 was amazing). This particular piece was absolutely magnificent! The orchestra was joined by mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, the women from the Utah Symphony Chorus, and the Madeleine School Choir. I had goosebumps almost from the opening notes played by the horn section (eight of them). The first movement was very dramatic, featuring a rousing march and a wonderful theme played by a solo trombone. The second movement was very playful, in my opinion, with themes played by the oboes and clarinets (I love it when the woodwinds are featured). According to Mahler, this movement represents flowers and it was probably my favorite section of the symphony. The third movement included a solo trumpet played off stage and this was amazing! The fourth movement featured Mumford, who gave a lovely performance. The text is based on Friedrich Nietzsche's "Midnight Song" and I found it to be both beautiful and atmospheric. Mumford was joined by both choirs in the fifth movement and I particularly loved when the children imitated bells. The final movement was also incredibly dramatic. It started very slowly and softly and then built to an incredible crescendo featuring the timpani. This symphony is almost two hours long but the beautiful music carried me away and it seemed to last for just an instant! I really enjoyed this concert last night and I definitely recommend getting a ticket to tonight's performance. Go here for tickets and information.
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