Live in Concert 7.02.14 BBC NOW - Mahler 9

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Mahler's Symphony No 9

Live from St David's Hall, Cardiff

Presented by Nicola Heywood Thomas

Thomas Søndergård and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales play Mahler's Symphony No. 9.

Mahler: Symphony No 9

Thomas Søndergård, conductor

Aware that Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner had never lived beyond their Ninth symphonies, Mahler approached his own Ninth with trepidation. Opening with the rhythm of an irregular heartbeat from within the orchestra, Mahler's Ninth Symphony embarks on a journey of super-human intensity through to its heart-rending conclusion ninety minutes later.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

They've left an ample time slot for this symphony...

[EnemyoftheStoat]

They've left an ample time slot for this symphony...

That's so they can read your tweets and emails afterwards.

[Flosshilde]

I probably won't listen to this - partly because I won't be able to listen un-interrupted, but also I'm not sure about listening at home. I've heard it, once, live (& will do again later in the year) & I feel that it's one of those works which don't suit home listening - if only because the end is lost.

[Nachtigall]

I thought it was rather a good performance in a pleasing acoustic. Søndergård laudably followed Abbado in achieving a prolonged period of silence following the closing bars before the audience broke in with applause.

[BBMmk2]

I thought it was rather a good performance in a pleasing acoustic. Søndergård laudably followed Abbado in achieving a prolonged period of silence following the closing bars before the audience broke in with applause.

This symphony needs to be listened to at home alone(if not at concert hall). With no distractions, certainly! I for one, hope to, say over this weekend.

[DracoM]

Loved the detail in the playing.

[Oliver]

That was interesting, Nachtigall. I picked this up on my car radio last night, returning home from Heathrow after three weeks far away. Had no idea who was performing but guessed Abbado; I assumed it was part of a tribute. I was surprised when I heard the announcement at the end.
I don't think I've ever heard such a long pause before applause.

[Flosshilde]

I don't think I've ever heard such a long pause before applause.

Possibly because what seemed like silence listening on a car radio or at home was in fact, in the concert hall, the last dying notes of the music?

[amateur51]

Possibly because what seemed like silence listening on a car radio or at home was in fact, in the concert hall, the last dying notes of the music?

The conductor often holds his/her hands/arms outstretched so that there is no question of the silence being broken. The first conductor that I saw do this was Haitink - it is very effective except against extreme narcissism.

[Nachtigall]

Possibly because what seemed like silence listening on a car radio or at home was in fact, in the concert hall, the last dying notes of the music?

Sorry, that was absolutely not the case. As I stated above, there was an unusually prolonged period of total silence before the applause, indicating that the conductor was doing exactly what amateur describes.

[Flosshilde]

Well, if you were there that would be clear - less so if one was listening on a car radio (as Oliver said he was); sometimes, with an extremely quiet ending (or beginning) it's difficult to tell when the music has finished.