Houston Symphony | Mahler's Symphony No. 6 🎻😍

The Houston Symphony, under the baton of Juraj Valčuha, delivered a mesmerizing performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 6. They opted for the Andante-Scherzo movement order, a choice I wholeheartedly endorse—linking the Allegro and Scherzo back-to-back would've left listeners gasping for breath! 🎶💨 Compared to Dudamel's rendition in January, Valčuha placed greater emphasis on balancing the sections, particularly excelling in the dynamics of the first movement. My favorite moment in this movement is the pastoral segment's conclusion, where the strings' tremolo introduces a march-like melody. It's as if a hero glances back at the fields, wipes away tears, and strides into fate's embrace. 🌾💪 If Mahler's First Symphony, with its depiction of nature, is my favorite Mahler symphony, then the Andante of his Sixth is the most beautiful movement I've ever heard in any symphony. "Poignant beauty" perfectly describes this section—I always find myself tearing up near the climax. I adore how Valčuha handles the violin section's details, mirroring the MTT recording I'm familiar with. My only quibble is that the horn section sometimes seems a bit ahead of the beat? 🎻🎺 In the third movement, the Scherzo, the woodwinds, especially the principal clarinetist, truly shine! The timpani at the beginning is solid but unremarkable—if you listen to MTT's version of Mahler's Sixth Scherzo, the timpani alone could pierce your heart. 🥁💔 The fourth movement is unforgettable for its two iconic mallet strikes. Mahler initially considered over a dozen strikes but scaled it back to five, then finally to three. The third strike was removed in a 1963 revision (if you've heard Bernstein's three-strike version, you'll agree it feels out of place). Houston's strikes tonight lacked the penetrating power of the LA Phil's—after all, the LA Phil used a massive wooden box placed at the very top of the stage! 🔨🎭 In the final movement, Mahler's hero rises to fight again and again, only to be felled by fate's blows. The symphony concludes with a stirring tutti followed by a pizzicato from the strings. 🎻💥 Oh, and one more thing—Sir Simon Rattle will be bringing the BRSO on tour to the U.S. in late April! Rattle chose Mahler's Sixth for his debut concert with the Berliner Philharmoniker and again for his farewell concert. I'm eagerly anticipating experiencing his interpretation live! 🎼🎉 #Symphony #ClassicalMusic #Mahler #MahlerSixthSymphony 🏟😅🎶