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Past Events

Mahler’s Seventh Symphony: Study Day with Gavin Plumley

GMS members arrived from the North, South and Midlands for the latest in our Vice-President Gavin Plumley’s ongoing series of study days, following the symphonies inchronological order. We welcomed members from South Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Hertfordshire, Sussex and every area of Greater London: another example of the strong draw of hearing Mahler’s music and learning about his life and work. Gavin himself lives in Herefordshire and made the trip from Somerset.

Gavin views each symphony not as a work in isolation but as part of the ‘meta-symphony’ of Mahler’s entire symphonic oeuvre: and he draws on his passion for the music and on the extraordinary breadth and depth of his knowledge of European art and culture to ‘scatter ideas and images at our feet’, as he put it. It’s exhilarating; and his ‘complete inability to condense anything’ (his words again) is a matter for celebration rather than apology.

He presented the Seventh Symphony as ‘performative’, a display: we look in vain for the goal-directed sincerities and certainties of the early symphonies. The way he operates is rather like zooming in on a Google map: he enables us to see all kinds of details and connections that throw light on the man and the music. How delightful, for instance, to learn that Gustav and Alma walked home from a performance of Lehár’s The Merry Widow (referenced in the Finale of the Seventh Symphony) singing its melodies to each other.

We will publish the date and details of Gavin’s next study day, on the Eighth Symphony (the so-called ‘Symphony of a Thousand’), as soon as they are available. Don’t miss out!

Mahler at the BBC Proms 2025

Mahler’s music captivated audiences at the BBC Proms, starting on Friday 18 July, with four symphonies and the rare early cantata Das Klagende Lied.

Monday 21 July: The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Chief Conductor John Storgårds, performed Mahler’s Seventh Symphony. Tenor Allan Clayton joined for Tom Coult’s Monologues for the Curious, based on M. R. James' ghost stories.

Saturday 2 August: The Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Kahchun Wong, performed Mahler’s Second Symphony, ‘Resurrection,’ with soprano Mari Eriksmoen, mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, and the Hallé Choir. The concert also featured Luciano Berio’s Sinfonia, which included Mahler's 2nd Symphony’s third movement.

Monday 4 August: The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, under Hannu Lintu, performed Mahler’s Das Klagende Lied, with soloists including Natalya Romaniw and Jennifer Johnston. The concert began with Pierre Boulez’s Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna.

Monday 11 August: Mahler’s Third Symphony was performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Orchestre National de Bretagne, with mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor and multiple choruses. Ryan Bancroft conducted.

Wednesday 13 August: Beth Taylor gave a song recital at the 1901 Arts Club, near Waterloo, just days after her Mahler performance.

Saturday 23 August: The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, led by Klaus Mäkelä, performed Mahler’s Fifth Symphony and Berio’s Rendering, a tribute to Schubert’s unfinished symphony in D.

Licht in Der Nacht

Wednesday 13th August at 6.00pm: ‘Licht in Der Nacht’ took place at the 1901 Arts Club, 7 Exton Street, Waterloo, London SE1 8UE.

Guests joined acclaimed mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor and distinguished pianist Hamish Brown for an evening recital. The night was caressed with a heady mix of lieder and mélodies that expressed feelings of love, loss, longing, angst, and introspection in an exploration of fin de siècle Austrian and French late romanticism, symbolism, mysticism, and impressionism. It was a rare night of musical excellence, as both Beth and Hamish are in high demand.

News of the Delphine Trio

As you know, the GMS UK’s recent Mahler concert to support young musicians building their careers took place on 25 April 2024, ‘Mahler’s Vienna’ with Betty Makharinsky soprano and Pavel Timofeyevsky piano. See this website’s Concerts and Events page for details.

Our concert in the same series last year was The Delphine Trio and Friends, the Trio being Jobine Siekman cello, Magdalenna Krstevska clarinet and Roelof Temmingh piano, while the friends were Maja Horvat violin and Zwakele Tshbalala tenor.

Since that 2023 concert the Delphine Trio has been busy, recording their début album ‘Adrift’ - TRPTK 2024 (32bit DXD, DSD256). The album has received this glowing review:
“... It is such a pleasure hearing an entire recital of twentieth century compositions that, while often less well known, are dramatically good works. The works are varied, frequently dramatic, and contain unexpected twists and turns that consistently piqued my interest for more. I applaud their programming choices! The less frequently heard combination of clarinet, cello and piano makes for a welcome bit of aural recreation. 

Importantly, the performance qualities of the Delphine Trio are very high — they are excellent musicians who perform with both a high degree of technical proficiency and a clearly evident pleasure in creating music. There is a joyful elan to their performances that is to be cherished. This is music-making of the highest caliber. I look forward to more recordings from this excellent trio…”

For the full review, see the following link:
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The Trio isn’t resting on its laurels though. They are currently engaged in a tour:
13 June Bristol, Trio programme featuring Glinka, Fauré, Howard, Brahms
14 July Buxton Festival, Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time

In the nicest possible sense, Break a Leg Delphine Trio!

The Year 2024 got off to a cracking start, when GMS UK President Anthony Raumann met Marina Mahler Fistoulari, granddaughter of Gustav Mahler, in London.

Anthony gave Marina a copy of the CD recording of Das Lied von der Erde in Mahler's Autograph original piano version, with soloists Claudia Huckle contralto, Nicky Spence tenor and Justin Brown piano.

GMS UK was one of the sponsors of this 2023 recording, on the Champs Hill label CHRCD167. The reviewer in BBC Music Magazine wrote, “Here, perfect technique, deep expression and unique vocal personalities combine in the singing of Scottish tenor Nicky Spence and Anglo-German contralto Claudia Huckle…”

Mahler Society members hope to meet Marina Mahler on future occasions when her schedule allows her to visit London. In the meantime, our message to Marina is Happy Listening. We hope you are enjoying this recording as much as we are.

The Society brings together the ever growing number of people who share a love for Mahler’s music. By becoming a member you will enjoy many benefits. Throughout the year there are opportunities to hear noted scholars of Mahler’s life and work, but we also hold events such as the Annual Dinner whose focus is primarily a social one.

Regular newsletters will bring you up to date about concerts in London and other parts of the country, as well as any discounts which may be available to members.