A marathon effort of Mahler’s challenging Resurrection Symphony.

Hamer Hall, Melbourne
November 13, 2014

This performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony, the ‘Resurrection,’ marked the next step in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s ongoing Mahler cycle and there was a palpable sense of energy and excitement emanating from within the orchestra itself that resonated throughout Hamer Hall. As with much of the meatier Romantic repertoire, Mahler Two calls for Olympian playing from all musicians concerned. The MSO had also significantly expanded in order to accommodate the larger woodwind and brass sections required.

Sir Andrew Davis set off conducting the orchestra with gusto, the lower strings adding edge to the gruff opening passage. The massive first movement of the symphony is almost a complete work in itself, the orchestra exploring a huge range of contrasting colours and textures throughout the one movement. While playing securely, I felt the MSO never quite explored the very extremities of the dynamic range in a performance that felt a little bit safe. While undoubtedly good, it wasn’t an example of the MSO at their most brilliant.

Things looked up in the second movement, the front desk of the strings playing the first theme sweetly and with just the...