We've had fun and games with our Christmas concert, and we've had Scottish-themed and maritime-themed concerts, but no Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra season would be complete without a 'big' piece – and they don't come much bigger or more demanding than Mahler's Ninth Symphony.
Completed in 1909, Mahler's Ninth ends with perhaps his greatest and most profound slow movement. It's a demanding work both technically and artistically, but we're doing it because we love it, and – as Mallory said of Everest – 'because it's there'.
It's not all scaling the heights, as the Mahler is prefaced by Richard Strauss's melodious Serenade for Wind.
Our conductor for this concert is Manchester-based Tom Newall, a former RNCM student, familiar to many of us for his work with the Salford Choral Society and the Manchester-based Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, and our Guest Leader is Madeleine Fitzgerald.
As always, the venue is the Evans Theatre in Wilmslow Leisure Centre. There is plenty of convenient free parking, and the theatre itself has comfortable seating and good disabled and restricted mobility access. The tiered auditorium ensures that everyone can see as well as hear clearly.
The concert takes place on Saturday 28th April at 7.45pm in Wilmslow Leisure Centre. Tickets cost £12 (Concession £10, Under 18s £2) and may be obtained from the Ticket Secretary (01925 756 144), at Bang & Olufsen, Alderley Road, Wilmslow (01625 527666), at Therapy, Bank Square (01625 400113), or at the door.
Photo: Conductor Tom Newall.
Guest post by Dermot Gault.
