Copyright Betina Skovbro Photography
BBC National Orchestra of Wales will be performing once again at St David’s Hall on Friday 7 February, bringing the intensity and power of Mahler’s Symphony No 9 to Cardiff, under Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård.
This truly epic piece encapsulates both the joy and tragedy of life. One of Mahler’s last completed works, he composed the piece with some trepidation – well aware that fellow composers including Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner had not lived past their ninth symphonies.
Throughout this journey of super-human intensity, there are plenty of powerful emotional moments, alongside the occasional surprise – including a crude country Ländler (slow waltz) – and, after an intense conclusion, the music dissolves away to nothing.
An energetic and exciting piece for the Orchestra to play, it’s a favourite for our Principal Trombone, Donal Bannister: “It’s very dramatic; it’s highly charged and full of expression! But I think without doubt it’s his best symphony, partly because it has a classical balance to it – each movement complements each other, and it adds up to a wonderful life-affirming whole.”
Tickets for this concert, on Friday 7 February, 7.30pm, are £10-£29 (discounts available) and are available through the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line, by calling 0800 052 1812.
Alternatively, tickets are available through the St David’s Hall Box Office on 029 2087 8444, or online at stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk. Please note that the St David’s Hall online booking service carries an additional booking charge of £1.75 per transaction.
For more information about the Orchestra, visit their website at bbc.co.uk/now.
