Gustav Mahler

Mahler Symphony No 9

New York Philharmonic
Alan Gilbert conductor

America’s oldest symphony orchestra - it was founded in 1842 - and certainly one of the most beloved of US music institutions, the New York Philharmonic last year gave its 15,000th concert, a figure which includes 430 cities in 63 countries on five continents. Despite a history of prestigious music directors including Boulez, Bernstein, Stowkowski, Barbirolli and Toscanini, the present incumbent Alan Gilbert - who took up the post in 2009 - is actually the first native New Yorker. His parents were both musicians in the orchestra: the ensemble, its heritage, reputation and spirit is part of his very identity. Perhaps his most famous predecessor, however, is the composer Gustav Mahler, whose last complete symphony, the Ninth, we hear tonight. It is a remarkable work, a symphony of astonishing intensity, of life-affirming beauty, an achievement both moving and majestic.

The performance was Alan Gilbert’s triumph: having made all the right choices, he paid meticulous attention to every detail, yet sustained his grasp of the whole – a truly impressive achievement.’ New York Concert Review