Next Meeting

Meeting Hand Out (PDF file)

SPEAKER : Patrick P. L. Lam (Biography)
TOPIC : Mahler’s Symphony No.3 ­– A symphony on nature and life

DATE : Sunday, February 7, 2010
TIME : 2 to 5 pm
LOCATION :
North York Central Library Meeting Room 2/3
(** PLEASE NOTE NEW MEETING VENUE **)
5120 Yonge St. (Direction with Google Map here)
You can access the library directly from the North York Centre TTC station, just follow the sign to the library.
Fee : $3 (To cover handouts, refreshments and room rental)

Over the course of the next two years, Mahler’s music will be one of the major focuses for orchestras around the world. 2010 marks the centenary to the birth Gustav Mahler, and to start off this important year, our co-founder Patrick Lam will explore the mammoth Mahler Symphony No.3. In the first part, Patrick will share with us his thoughts on this Symphony, and highlight some of the evidence and musical examples demonstrating how Mahler has written a symphony on nature and life, ending on what some would refer as a fulfillment of transcendental love. How do Mahler interpreters present this Symphony today? Is it a work of its time? What are some excellent, good, and mediocre performances? In the second part, Patrick will address these questions using a group of noteworthy examples as comparative listening.

This Symphony No.3 lecture is presented in part to prepare members, who will be attending upcoming performances of this work in February. The Symphony No.3 will be performed on Feb 10th/11th in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (Soloist: Kelly O’Connor, conducted by Edo de Waart), in Machester on Feb. 13th with the BBC Philharmonic (Soloist: Karen Cargill, conducted by Vassily Sinaisky), and in New York on Feb 17th with the visiting Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Soloist: Jill Grove, conducted by Mariss Jansons). The TMS is currently soliciting interesting members to attend the RCO performance together – for pre/post-concert gathering with members of the Gustav Mahler Society in New York.