Tuesday, October 17, 2000 20:00
200
2 nd Symphony in c minor – “Resurrection” (1894)
1st Movement: Allegro maestoso
2nd Movement: Andante moderato
3rd Movement: In Ruhig Fliessen der Bewegung
4th Movement: Urlicht, sehr Feierlich, aber Schlicht
5th Movement: In Tempo der Scherzo wild Herausfahrend;
Wieder sehr Breit; Ritardando maestoso;
Wieder Zuruckhaltend; Langsam misterioso;
Etwas Bewegter mit Aufschwung aber nicht eilen
Soprano:
Sonora Vaice
Mezzo-soprano:
Liang Ning
Conductor:
Gilbert Kaplan
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
The Chorus of Shanghai Opera House Chorus
The Chorus of the Central Opera Theatre of China
Mahler’s Interpretation of His Symphony Nº 2
Mahler wrote some descripitions about his Symphony Nº 2The following is from his
writing:
Movement I. Allegro Maestoso
“We are standing in front of the coffin of a once loved person .His whole life,
his struggle, his enthusiasm, his suffering and his achievements appear to us
once more. But now, an exciting voice holds everyone in awe : ‘What will come
next? What is life? What is death? What did you live for? Why did you
suffer?......Can we live forever? Is there any meaning in our life and death?’
We must answer these questions in certain forms ... but to this question, I will
give the answer in the last movement.”
About the 5-minute Rest
Mahler encountered difficulties in deciding whether to have the Andante in
Movement II. He felt there would be too extreme a contrast between the intensity
of Movement I and the softness of the Andante movement. It would feel as if the
andante movement was added afterwards. “this is my fault,” he said, “but don’t
merely submit to the judgement of the audience.” His first decision was to make
Movement III andante, and the symphony was first performed in 1894. When later
he decided to make Movement II andante, he used an unusual treatment, which was
asking the conductor to add a rest of at least 5 minutes, between Movement I and
Movement II. At first, he asked for a break of 5 minutes, and later changed it
to a rest of at least 5 minutes. This might be explained as providing the
possibility of having an interval.
Movement II. Andante Moderato
“Memory: a loved one left the world. the sky is clear and the sun is shining
bright. You must have the feeling that you have just buried a loved person.
Perhaps you are on the way back home. There was a time of shared enjoyment that
was once forgotten. Suddenly the sun rises in your heart – it is not in the
least overshadowed – and you have almost forgot what happened a moment ago.
Movement III. In Ruhig Fliessen der Bewegung
“When you wake up from a dream of pure bliss, you have to come back to the
chaotic life that is full of huge rolling waves. Suddenly it becomes dark and
fearful, and the rolling crowds are dancing frantically in the brightly-lit
hall. And you are in the darkness outside, starting into the hall – there is
such a long distance that you can not hear the music...You can imagine that when
one loses one’s mind and happiness, life becomes meaningless. The hateful life
pinches him like iron pliers, and he cries miserably in an extreme panic.”
Movement IV. Urlicht, Sehr Feierlich, Aber
Schlicht
“An innocent and touching voice is ringing in our ears: we are from God and will
return to God . Dear Lord, please give us light and it will show me the way to
life.”
Movement V In Tempo des Scherzo
“This movement will begin with a similar pain-stricken scream, and the scherzo
will also end with the scream.”
“The caller’s voice is already heard, the trumpet
of the Final Judgement will soon blow. The fear of this important date has
filled the sky, and the earth is trembling....The rich and the poor, peasants
and kings, all the churches and their bishops and priests are walking in the
same group, weeping and trembling with the same fear... On the silent and wasted
land lingers the crying of a dying bird... Finally it dies, too.
What we have been long expecting has happened:
every life continues to live. The beautifully simple and soft singing of saints
and angels are becoming louder and louder.”