BBC Philharmonic - Mahler Symphony No. 9

Yoel Gamzou conductor*

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 9

As Gustav Mahler began his Ninth Symphony, he was fully aware of its portent. Like Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner before him, his Ninth was to be the last he finished. Mahler knew about his heart defect which would prove fatal. This most epic of symphonies is one last, glorious journey, from the faltering opening to Mahler’s own dance of death, the Rondo-Burleske. There’s something else which courses through the veins of the Ninth: a quotation from a waltz by Johann Strauss. It’s called ‘Enjoy Life’. Conductor Yoel Gamzou is a renowned Mahler specialist and so we couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s able to join us for this performance.

*Please note: Mark Wigglesworth has had to withdraw from this concert for personal reasons. However, we are delighted that Yoel Gamzou has agreed to step in to conduct the Orchestra. As a result of this change, Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem will no longer form part of this programme. The performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 will therefore be performed straight through, with no interval.