BPO Classics Series
MAHLER & MAHLER
Friday, November 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Andrea Bickford, soprano
A. MAHLER / | Lieder | |
INTERMISSION | ||
G. MAHLER | Symphony No. 1 in D major |
The Classics Series is presented by the
The Coffee Concert Series is presented by
See below for Lieder text and English translations by Andrea Bickford.
After Saturday’s performance, join members of the orchestra on Kleinhans’ Lower Level for Musician’s Nightcap.
Patrons are asked to silence all electronic devices.
The use of cameras and recording devices is strictly prohibited.
By JoAnn Falletta, Music Director
Alma Schindler was hailed as the most beautiful young woman in Vienna, but she was also an aspiring composer who was writing songs and hoping to forge a compositional career. Gustav Mahler, 20 years her senior, was hailed as a musical star—a great conductor and a composer with startlingly original ideas. After a fiery courtship, they married, but Mahler extracted a promise that there would only be one composer in their home (him). Years later, he would repent of that decision, but it was too late for Alma. Luckily we still have Alma's early songs, and you will hear a collection of those tonight, followed by Gustav's first symphony—a groundbreaking step in the music world, and possibly the greatest first symphony ever written.
By Chaz Stuart
Die stille Stadt
by Richard Dehmel
Liegt eine Stadt im Tale, Von allen Bergen drücken Doch als der Wandrer graute, | A town lies in the valley, Pressing from all the mountains But when the traveler filled with dread, |
Waldseligkeit
by Richard Dehmel
Der Wald beginnt zu rauschen, Und unter ihren Zweigen | the trees draw in the night; And under the branches |
Licht in der Nacht
by Otto Julius Bierbaum
Ringsum dunkle Nacht, Ist mir wie ein Trost, Kleines gelbes Licht, Und da löscht es aus! | Dark night all around, It’s like a consolation to me, Small yellow light, And then it goes out! |
Bei dir ist es traut
by Rainer Maria Rilke
Bei dir ist es traut, Ein Tor geht irgendwo | With you it is trust, A gate opens somewhere |
Laue Sommernacht
by Otto Julius Bierbaum
Laue Sommernacht: am Himmel Fanden uns im weiten Walde War nicht unser ganzes Leben | Warm Summer nights: in the sky Found each other in the vast forest Wasn’t our whole life |
Erntelied
by Gustav Falke
Der ganze Himmel glüht Und nun kommt von jenen Rosenhügeln Fern und dumpf rauscht das erwachte Meer. | in the rosy morning light, And now comes from the rose hills Distant and dull murmurs from the awakened Sea. |
English translations by Andrea Bickford