LAN SHUI Music Director
subscription concert
ELIAHU INBAL • MAHLER 6 6 April 2018 Esplanade Concert Hall Performing Home of the SSO
Eliahu Inbal, conductor
6 Apr 2018, Fri
ELIAHU INBAL • MAHLER 6 Singapore Symphony Orchestra Eliahu Inbal, conductor GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 6 in A minor “Tragic” 79’00 1. Allegro energico, ma non troppo 2. Scherzo. Wuchtig 3. Andante moderato 4. Finale. Allegro moderato
There will be no intermission during this performance. Concert duration: 1 hr 35 mins Go green. Digital programme booklets are available on www.sso.org.sg. Scan the QR code in the foyer to view a copy.
S ing a p or e S y mp hon y Or c he s t r a ‘A fine display of orchestral bravado for the SSO and Shui’ The Guardian
Since its founding in 1979, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has been Singapore’s flagship orchestra, touching lives through classical music and providing the heartbeat of the cultural scene in the cosmopolitan city-state. In addition to its subscription series concerts, the orchestra is well-loved for its outdoor and community appearances, and its significant role educating the young people of Singapore. The SSO has also earned an international reputation for its orchestral virtuosity, having garnered sterling reviews for its overseas tours and many successful recordings. The SSO makes its performing home at the 1,800-seat state-of-the-art Esplanade Concert Hall. More intimate works and all outreach and community performances take place at the
673-seat Victoria Concert Hall, the home of the SSO. The orchestra performs 100 concerts a year, and its versatile repertoire spans alltime favourites and orchestral masterpieces to exciting cutting-edge premieres. Bridging the musical traditions of East and West, Singaporean and Asian musicians and composers are regularly showcased in the concert season. This has been a core of the SSO’s programming philosophy from the very beginning under Choo Hoey, who was Music Director from 1979 to 1996. Since Lan Shui assumed the position of Music Director in 1997, the SSO has performed in Europe, Asia and the United States. In May 2016 the SSO was invited to perform at the Dresden Music Festival and the Prague Spring International Music Festival. This successful five‑city tour of
Germany and Prague also included the SSO’s return to the Berlin Philharmonie after six years. In 2014 the SSO’s debut at the 120th BBC Proms in London received critical acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph. The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions. Notable SSO releases under BIS include a Rachmaninov series, a “Seascapes” album, two Debussy discs “La Mer” and “Jeux”, and the first-ever cycle of Tcherepnin’s piano concertos and symphonies. The SSO has also collaborated with such great artists as Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Neeme Järvi, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Diana Damrau, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham.
E L IAHU INB A L conductor
In Inbal, one can trace the clear traits of role models and teachers such as Franco Ferrara and Sergiu Celibidache; he possesses the strength for tranquillity and the sense to create unbridled passion and dramatic effect. — Die Welt Since winning First Prize in the Cantelli Conducting Competition at the age of 26, Eliahu Inbal has enjoyed an international career, conducting leading orchestras worldwide. Over the years, he has been appointed Principal Conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (hrSinfonieorchester), Teatro La Fenice in Venice, RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Czech Philharmonic and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, who named him Conductor Laureate in 2014. During his tenure with the hr-Sinfonieorchester (1974—1990), whose Honorary Conductor he remains today, Eliahu Inbal distinguished himself as an outstanding musical personality of our time. The charismatic Israeli conductor, who lives in Berlin, received international acclaim for his interpretations of Mahler and Bruckner on a number of award-winning recordings (Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, Grand Prix du Disque) and was the first to record the original versions of Bruckner’s symphonies. In particular, he has received special recognition for his interpretations of Dmitri Shostakovich’s symphonies. 2016 marked Eliahu Inbal’s 80th birthday. Throughout the year, he was featured as a guest conductor with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (SWR) in Basel, Vienna and at the Spring Festival in MonteCarlo. He conducted Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France at the Philharmonie de Paris, Symphony No. 4 at the Konzerthaus Berlin and the Alte Oper Frankfurt, and
Symphony No. 8 with the Orchestra del Teatro la Fenice. In 2017, he led Bruckner’s Eighth at the Philharmonie de Paris, as well as Mahler’s Eighth at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg shortly after its opening, and he toured Seoul and Japan with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. In spring 2018 he will return to Asia for two months, on the invitation of orchestras including the China Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony and the Singapore Symphony. Born in Israel, Eliahu Inbal studied violin and composition at the Jerusalem Music Academy before completing his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris on the recommendation of Leonard Bernstein. His teachers there included Louis Fourestier, Olivier Messiaen and Nadia Boulanger. He was also greatly influenced by Franco Ferrara in Hilversum (Netherlands) and Sergiu Celibidache in Siena (Italy). In 1990, the French government named Eliahu Inbal an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. In February 2001 he was awarded the Golden Medal for Merit from the city of Vienna. He received the Goethe Badge of Honour from the City of Frankfurt and the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany in 2006.
Empowering lives. Nurturing communities.
We believe in building a sustainable future with the community – wherever we operate. In more than 30 countries, we reach out and give back through lending a hand to the needy and under-privileged, promoting education, caring for the environment as well as cultivating appreciation of the arts. We make it a part of our business to lay the foundation for a brighter future, one upon which successive generations will thrive.
Keppel Corporation Limited 1 HarbourFront Avenue #18-01 Keppel Bay Tower Singapore 098632 I www.kepcorp.com
N E V E R
S T A Y
J U S T
S T A Y .
I N S P I R E D .
Feel the pulse of Singapore in the heart of Marina Bay, where business, fashion, art and entertainment blend into a dynamic playground for you, the discerning traveller. Wake up in one of the newly rejuvenated guest room exuding contemporary luxury with Asian accents, savour tantalizing cuisines at award-winning restaurants, or explore world-class attractions, discover discreet luxury at one of the world’s top destination.
centennial singapore Two Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038982 | Phone +65 6334 8888 | ConradSingapore.com
SSO MU SICIAN S Lan Shui Music Director joshua tan Associate Conductor jason lai Associate Conductor andrew litton Principal Guest Conductor Choo Hoey Conductor Emeritus Eudenice Palaruan Choral Director
FIRST VIOLIN Igor Yuzefovich° Concertmaster, The GK Goh Chair Lynnette Seah Co-Concertmaster Kong Zhao Hui* Associate Concertmaster Chan Yoong-Han Fixed Chair Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Gu Wen Li Jin Li Cindy Lee Lim Shue Churn^ Sui Jing Jing Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe SECOND VIOLIN Zhao Tian^ Principal Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval* Lee Shi Mei^
Chikako Sasaki* Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Lillian Wang Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Ye Lin* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhang Si Jing* VIOLA Zhang Manchin Principal Guan Qi Associate Principal Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair Marietta Ku Luo Biao Julia Park Shui Bing Tan Wee-Hsin Janice Tsai Wang Dandan Yang Shi Li Yeo Jan Wea^ CELLO Ng Pei-Sian Principal Yu Jing Associate Principal Guo Hao Fixed Chair Chan Wei Shing Lin Juan^ Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wang Zihao* Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er DOUBLE BASS Guennadi Mouzyka Principal Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Foo Yin Hong^ Ma Li Ming^ Jacek Mirucki Wang Xu FLUTE Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal
Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan Wang Tong^
Edward Deskur^ Hoang Van Hoc^ Alexander Oon^ Kartik Alan Jairamin
PICCOLO Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal OBOE Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Sze Yu-Hey^ Elaine Yeo
TRUMPET Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Nitiphum Bamrungbanthum^ Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin Douglas Waterston^ TROMBONE
Elaine Yeo Associate Principal Sze Yu-Hey^
Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong
CLARINET
BASS TROMBONE
Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Chen Wei Leng^ Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping
Wang Wei Assistant Principal
COR ANGLAIS
TUBA Hidehiro Fujita Principal TIMPANI
BASS CLARINET Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal
Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal
BASSOON
PERCUSSION
Ignas Mazvila^ Principal Liu Chang Associate Principal Cheung King Lun^ Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue
Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Lim Meng Keh Ng Sok Wah^ Tan Pei Jie^ Zhu Zheng Yi
CONTRA BASSOON Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal Cheung King Lun^
HARP Gulnara Mashurova Principal Huang Yu Hsin^
HORN Han Chang Chou Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal
CELESTE Shane Thio^
*With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments. °Igor Yuzefovich plays an instrument generously loaned by Mr & Mrs G K Goh ^Musician on temporary contract Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis.
Supporting the Local Arts and Cultural Scene Partner of SSO since 1978 NSL is a long-standing sponsor for Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). We have been instrumental in helping the Orchestra reach out to the community-at-large as SSO brings music to the world. A leading industrial group in the Asia Pacific with businesses in Precast & Prefabricated Bathroom Unit and Environmental Services, NSL believes that while achieving business goals is important, its actions need to also create a positive impact on the community, environment and all stakeholders.
NSL LTD 77 Robinson Road #27-00 Robinson 77 Singapore 068896 Tel: 6536 1000 I Fax: 6536 1008 I www.nsl.com.sg
music i a n c h a ir s
Igor Yuzefovich Concertmaster The GK Goh Chair The GK Goh Chair is endowed by the Family and Friends of Mr Goh Geok Khim
GUO HAO Fixed Chair Cello The Fixed Chair Cello is supported by
CORPORATE SEAT S The Singapore Symphony Orchestra appreciates the support of companies in our Corporate Seats scheme. The scheme supports the Orchestra through regular attendance of subscription concerts. $20,000 and above Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore (Pte) Ltd
Up to $10,000 Hong Leong Foundation Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd Prima Limited Santa Lucia Asset Management Stephen Riady Group of Foundations
This list is for donations from 1 Jan 2017 to 1 Jan 2018. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a charity and not-for-profit organisation. Find out how you can support us at www.sso.org.sg. Call or email us at 6602 4238 or peggykek@sso.org.sg.
2017 A nnu a l A p p e a l Donor s Special thanks to everyone who responded to our 2017 Annual Appeal. With your generous donations, we are able to subsidise more student tickets and continue to stage free public performances to share the love of music.
$10,000 BinjaiTree Prof Chan Heng Chee Devika & Sanjiv Misra Neil & Mijong Tottman Peter Wong Anonymous $2,000 to $5,000 Lionel Choi Steven & Liwen Holmes Dr AndrĂŠ Klein Robin Ian Rawlings Dr Gillian Koh Eric Wong Chng Hak-Peng Prof Arnoud De Meyer Paterson Lau & Pauline Tan $1,000 Igor Yuzefovich Aloha Dental Pte Ltd Pauline Ang Prof Kanti Bajpai Sally Chy Elizabeth Fong Guy Hentsch William Hernstadt Peggy Kek Ad Ketelaars Khoo Boon Hui
Paul Kitamura Prof Tommy Koh Dr Norman Lee Lek Lee Yong Wendy Leong Brian Lo Ng Pei-Sian Monique Ong Bernard Jean Sabrier Michael & Megumi Schlesinger Prof Richard Smith
Tan Lian Yok Iwona Wiktorowska Dr Yeo Ning Hong David & Catherine Zemans Zhang Weihua Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a charity and not-for-profit organisation. You can support us by donating at www.sso.org.sg/donate For inquiries, please call Nikki Chuang at 6602 4238, or email peggykek@sso.org.sg For tax-payers in Singapore, 2.5 times the donation amount will be deducted from your taxable income.
A S ta nding Ovat ion to o ur Donor s a nd Sp on s or s PATRON SPONSOR
Tote Board Group (Tote Board, Singapore Pools & Singapore Turf Club) $900,000 and above
Temasek Foundation Nurtures CLG Ltd Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin $100,000 and above
Christopher Ho & Rosy Ho Anonymous Far East Organization Lee Foundation Singapore Interchem Pte Ltd Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd $50,000 and above
Singapore Press Holdings Limited John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Kingsmen Exhibits Pte Ltd Anonymous Anonymous Aquilus Pte Ltd G K Goh Holdings Limited NSL Ltd
$20,000 and above Holywell Foundation Limited Keppel Care Foundation Kris Foundation Mr & Mrs Goh Geok Khim Joseph Grimberg Eugene Lai Chin Look Ms Paige Parker & Mr Jim Rogers Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi Martin United Overseas Bank Limited UPP Holdings Limited
Mr & Mrs Wong Ngit Liong Mr & Mrs Tan Vern Han Ho Ching Lee Theng Kiat Christina Ong Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd Pontiac Land Group Saga Tree Capital Advisors Pte Ltd Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Geoffrey Wong & Ai Ai Wong Yong Ying-I
$10,000 and above Irene Tedja Dr & Mrs Thomas Zuellig Foundation Prince Albert II of Monaco Allen & Gledhill LLP Credit Suisse AG, Singapore ABRSM Su Pin & Mervin Beng Anonymous At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy Pte Ltd Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin BinjaiTree Prof Chan Heng Chee Chan Wing Cheng Pauline Chan & Jean Nasr Anonymous Choo Chiau Beng DBS Bank Limited Andress Goh Lai Yan Amy & Kevin Gould Harpreet K. Bedi & Satinder S. Garcha Hi-P International Limited Hong Leong Foundation Kai S. Nargolwara Lee Ming San
LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd Liew Wei Li Anonymous Lito & Kim Camacho Liu Chee Ming Anonymous Olivia Lum Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd Devika & Sanjiv Misra Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd One North Capital Pte Ltd David Ong Eng Hui OSIM International Limited PSA International Private Limited Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd Santosa Handojo Doris & Andreas Sohmen-Pao Tan Choo Leng Tan Kong Piat (Pte) Limited Kim Teo Poh Jin Thomas Teo Van Cleef & Arpels Christine Yeh Yong Pung How
$5,000 and above David Lim Juliana & Clemente Benelli Prof Arnoud De Meyer Chartered Asset Management Private Limited Marie Elaine Teo Ms Manju Vangal & Mr Arudra Vangal Sharon Chandran AIA Singapore Private Limited Odile & Douglas Benjamin Dorothy Chan Chng Hak-Peng Lionel Choi Electrolux S.E.A. Pte Ltd F & N Foods Pte Ltd
Fullerton Fund Management Company Ltd Goh Geok Ling Ross & Florence Jennings Dr AndrĂŠ Klein Prof & Mrs Lim Seh Chun Lin Diaan-Yi Loke Cheng Kim Foundation Anonymous Poh Beng Swee Mr & Dr Peter Sheren Dr Gralf Sieghold Taizo Son Ms Tan Sook Yee
$1,000 and above Thorsten Walther Johanes Oeni Christian Rothenbuehler Jullie Kan Anonymous Mr & Mrs Leong Wah Kheong nTan Corporate Advisory Pte Ltd Anonymous Schroder Investment Management (Singapore) Ltd Dr Tan Chin Nam Eric Wong Ronald & Janet Stride William H Hernstadt Michelle Loh Kanti Bajpai Lawrence Basapa Cynthia Chee Bin Eng Patrick Chong Chong Siak Ching Dr & Mrs Choy Khai Meng Fong Ei Lie Daniel Harel & Laurence Harel Mr & Mrs Winston Hauw Guy J P Hentsch Ho Soo Foo Judy Hunt Khoo Boon Hui Paterson Lau & Pauline Tan Leong Yoke Chun Leow Oon Geok Dr Ng Eng Hen & Prof Ivy Ng Lim Eng Neo Anonymous Prive Clinic Pte Ltd Jonathan Reiter Bernard Jean Sabrier Peter Seah See Tho Kai Yin Dr Adrian Saurajen Anonymous Ivy Teh Whang Tar Liang Kris Wiluan Lucien Wong Xeitgeist Entertainment Group Pte Ltd David & Catherine Zemans Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd Jennie Chua Kim Woon Soo Shih Chih-Lung Dr Christopher Chen Adya Elizabeth Sunindar Gianluca Castaldi D'Isidoro Eddy Gael Bomblian Coutte Didier Pauline Ang Hooi Yeong Cambridge Therapeutics Pte Ltd Carmichael Heather Connie Chaird Sally Chy High Notes Music Solutions Bobby Chin Tracey Chu Gajardo Eugenia Aaron Hardy
Ho Soh Choon JW Central Pte Ltd Jean Yip Salon Pte Ltd Peggy Kek Tommy Koh Kwa Chong Seng Kenneth Mark Lai Lau Leok Yee Lau Kheng Tiong Anonymous Dr Norman Lee Anonymous Lek Lee Yong Lim Swee Lin Betty Lim & Ng Yi-Kheong Lim Lay Min Lin John Hsu Richard Low Ng Pei-Sian Ong Lee Fong Sheila Patel Robin Ian Rawlings Sara Taseer Fine Jewellery Pte Ltd Michael Schlesinger Dr Ho Ching Lin (SNEC) Richard Smith Wan Pong Liang Wee Joo Yeow Wee Kok Wah Kevin Wong Willam Wong Aznan Abu Bakar Ang Seow Long Cees & Raife Armstrong Marcie Ann Ball Bao Zhiming John & Eliza Bittleston Chai Huei Chuen Chan Ah Khim Chan Wai Leong Richard Chen Cheng Wei Margaret Chew Sing Seng Evelyn Rachel Chin Shang Thong Kai & Tiffany Choong Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng Barry Duncan Clarke John S Davison Maureen Derooij Jamie Lloyd Evans Irina Francken Christopher John Fussner Brian Holt Gambrill Goh Chiu Gak Goh Sze Wei Jerry Gwee Mark Edward Hansen Liwen Holmes Matthew G Johnson Khor Cheng Kian Belinda Koh Yuh Ling Takashi Kousaka Lai Kim Peng Mitchell Anonymous Vincent Lam Ho Ming Matthew Latham Eugene Lee
Lee Li-Ming Madeleine Lee Lee Peck Gee Lee Shu Yen Siong Ted Lee Leong Keng Hong Xiao Li Bettina Lieske Alvin Liew Liew Geok Cheng Mavis Lim Geck Chin Lim Hong Eng Janet Ling Yu Fei Stuart Liventals Jeffrey Loke Sin Hu Victor Loo Low Boon Hon Donny Low Low Fatt Kin Benjamin Ma Eunice Mah Li Lien Adelina Mah Li Ting Andre Maniam Gillian Metzger Izumi Miyake Joseph Mocanu Kathleen Moroney Mr & Mrs Willem Mark Nabarro David Neo Chin Wee Todd On Enhao Reuben Ong Herve Pauze Timothy Pitrelli Anonymous Anonymous Derek Quah Allyson Rameker Charles Robertson Andreas Ruschkowski Bernard Jean Sabrier Arend Schumacher Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda Jeremy Snoad Bernhard Steiner Bo Sun Tan Boon Ngee Tan Kok Huan Tan Kok Kiong Anonymous Ivan Tan Meng Cheng Giles Tan Ming Yee Tan Wee Kheng Kenneth Michael Daniel Tando Teo Ee Peng Tian Xiaoye Mr & Mrs Neil Tottman Michiel van Selm Peter White & Ong Yaw Hwee Wong Liang Keen Wu Peichan Valerie Satoru Yano Annie Yeo Vanessa Yeo
This list is for donations from 1 Jan 2017 to 31 Dec 2017.
G U S TAV MAHL ER (18 6 0 -1911) Symphony No. 6 in A minor “Tragic”
79’00
“There is only one Sixth, despite the Pastoral.” (Alban Berg to Anton Webern, 1908) Mahler, known to us as the great symphonist who wanted to express the universe in his music, never always enjoyed the secure reputation he now does in the great halls of the world. His music fell out of favour after his death, banned by the Nazis, and only the championing of Leonard Bernstein and other great non-German conductors rescued him from being forgotten. He was racked by a weak constitution and a tumultuous marriage on top of his immense self-doubt, and by the time it came to the composition of the Sixth Symphony he had only really been feted by audiences for his Fourth. On that happy evening he had been made to conduct the whole symphony straight through again. He then left behind that optimistic sound world, stripping down his orchestration and starting anew. And since the craft of a composer can always be best seen in their miniatures, let’s turn to the Rückert-Lieder: leaner orchestration, cleaner lines, more angular, and more poignant. The exuberance of the young Wunderhorn years was over. When discussing Mahler, reference is usually made to his life: how important his wife Alma was to him, how much he loved his children, how anti-Semitism ruined job opportunities, how he was always in friendly antagonism with Richard Strauss. Strauss outlived Mahler by many years and was never on friendly terms with Alma, and her biography of Mahler, a masterpiece of revisionist history, only served to push them further apart. “Mahler is always seeking redemption, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to be redeemed from!” (Richard Strauss) This search for redemption is evident right at the beginning of the Sixth Symphony, when a menacing bass pounding ushers in a huge funeral march, fiercely set in a minor key, the frenzy of instruments trading high notes only held back by the relentless beat. Amidst this, a soaring lyrical theme appears in the violins that he called his “Alma” motif, and for the first time, the beat is allowed to slacken and be pulled around by the passion of the music.
These two ideas remain in opposition for the rest of the movement, though the optimistic ending means Alma has gained the upper hand for now. What is important to remember in Mahler is that his music is always about the voice. Whether he actually employs human voices, as in his huge choral symphonies (the “Resurrection” Symphony, or the later “Symphony of a Thousand”), or writes beautiful love songs for orchestral forces (as in the Adagietto of the Fifth), Mahler always painstakingly establishes a symbolic human presence in the midst of his music. The triumph of the finale in the Fifth — which also starts with a funeral march — is ultimately humanist, and a representation of strength and hope from a world that was growing increasingly chaotic. And yet in the Sixth Symphony, the voice seems always to be quelled and dissolved. Mahler takes delight in a very specific gesture: the transformation of a major chord, played by the brass, into a minor one. Heard close to the beginning, this idea recurs throughout the hour-and-a-half duration of the symphony in various guises, ever changing in meaning. Alma’s optimistic end to the first movement is immediately crushed by the sardonic Scherzo. Timpani strokes and horns recall the pounding opening of the movement, but instead of a march, the orchestra segues into a sort of possessed waltz. Dissonant and haughty, it is intended as a musical joke, Mahler including directions like “grandfatherly” (Alt-väterisch) in the score. The music pretends to be many things it is not, and even if the pastoral country-dance sections have a quite unexpected grace, they only serve to throw the nihilism of the other sections into contrast. Our one moment of respite comes in the third movement, which the second violins open with one of the most beautiful melodies Mahler ever penned. Along with the Adagietto of the Fifth, this is Mahler’s great orchestral tribute to song, but even here the major-minor conflict never dies down. Certainly, this movement is peaceful and broad, recalling the countryside, but it is more wistful and nostalgic than a truly happy movement. The sounds of the country, symbolised in the use of the cowbell (the Almglocken — a pun on Alma), only appear in the moments of greatest agitation, as if a little avenue of escape for the musical memory… Commentaries on the life of Mahler always mention that he wrote the Sixth Symphony during what was otherwise the most happy time of his life. His second child had just been born, Alma had not quite embarked on her
string of infidelities, and his first daughter’s death from scarlet fever was still four years away. During the same years, he also composed a set of Kindertotenlieder, or Songs on the Death of Children. The wife was perplexed by the sombre mood of the works, fearing he was tempting fate. Certainly the famous hammer blows of the final movement would seem so. The music repeatedly builds to various climaxes, always starting with a harp glissando and a rising theme in the violins, followed by low brass coming in one after the other. Mahler is literally calling forth and building up his voices, as it were, but each time the music seems to get anywhere, the percussionist picks up his hammer and everything crashes down again. And here even Mahler did not dare to go too far: he scratched out the third of his hammer strokes, because that was the symbol of death. The majorto-minor chord is heard many times throughout this movement, the sign of something menacing ever approaching. All of this is mixed with all kinds of music: dances, marches, lyrical scenes, but in the last four bars of the score, when this cry breaks out for the final time, it is purely in the minor key. We are left bereft, staring into the abyss. Mahler’s life would slip off the path of happiness only a few years later: he did not live to hear his immense Song of the Earth and his Ninth Symphony, and would not complete his Tenth. He was uncomfortable and homesick when conducting in America, and the transatlantic journeys took their toll on his health; he died in Vienna of complications brought on by heart disease. In his own words, “I had to write these then... I would not have been able to write them after my child’s death.” In his essential humanity and wish to compose everything into his music, he sought out darkness and death in the prime of his life, reminding himself of his own fragility. He must have welcomed them when they finally arrived.
Programme notes by Thomas Ang
RECOMMENDED LISTENING 1) Mahler: Symphonies No. 1 & 5 Eliahu Inbal & Radio-Sinfonie Orchestra Frankfurt (Denon, 2007)
b oa r d of dir ec tor s & COMMITTE e S board of directors
SSO Council
SSO LADIES’ LEAGUE
Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chairman) Ms Yong Ying-I (Deputy Chairman) Mr Ang Chek Meng Mrs Odile Benjamin Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Lionel Choi Mr Warren Fernandez Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Heinrich Grafe Ms Liew Wei Li Ms Lim Mei Mr Sanjiv Misra Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Mr Paul Tan Dr Kelly Tang Mr Yee Chen Fah
Prof Cham Tao Soon (Honorary Chairman) Mr Alan Chan (Chairman) Mr Choo Chiau Beng Dr Geh Min Mr Goh Geok Khim Mr Khoo Boon Hui Prof Tommy Koh Mr JY Pillay Dr Stephen Riady Ms Priscylla Shaw Dr Gralf Sieghold Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Dr Tan Chin Nam Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Tan Soo Nan Mr Wee Ee Cheong
Mrs Odile Benjamin (Chairlady) Mrs Kwan Lui (Deputy Chairlady) Mrs Celeste Basapa Mrs Maisy Beh Mrs Kim Camacho Mrs Rosy Ho Ms Judy Hunt Prof Annie Koh Dr Julie Lo Mrs Clarinda TjiaDharmadi-Martin Ms Paige Parker Ms Kris Tan Ms Manju Vangal Mrs Grace Yeh
Nominating and Executive Committee
Musicians’ Committee
Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chairman) Mr Paul Tan Ms Yong Ying-I Audit Committee Mr Yee Chen Fah (Chairman) Ms Lim Mei Endowment Fund Committee Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chairman) Mr David Goh Mr Paul Supramaniam Mr Anthony Teo
Mr Chan Wei Shing Mr Jon Paul Dante Mr Jamie Hersch Mr Ng Pei-Sian Mr Mark Suter Mr Christoph Wichert Mr Yeo Teow Meng SNYO Committee Ms Liew Wei Li (Chairlady) Mr Ang Chek Meng Ms Vivien Goh Dr Kee Kirk Chin Mrs Valarie Wilson
MANAGEMENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mr Chng Hak-Peng
CEO OFFICE
PROGRAMMES (VCH)
Ms Shirin Foo Mr Lim Yeow Siang Mr Edward Loh Mr Chris Yong
Ms Michelle Yeo (Head) Ms Erin Tan
ORCHESTRA MANAGEMENT
Ms Peggy Kek (Head)
Mr Ernest Khoo (Head) Mr Chia Jit Min Ms Tan Wei Tian
Corporate Communications Ms Leong Wenshan
Stage Management Ms Kimberly Kwa (Stage Manager) Ms Chin Rosherna Mr Ramayah Elango Mr Md Fariz bin Samsuri Mr Radin Sulaiman bin Ali LIBRARY Mr Lim Lip Hua Ms Priscilla Neo PROGRAMMES (SSO) Ms Kua Li Leng (Head) Ms Teo Chew Yen Ms Jolene Yeo Community Outreach Ms Kathleen Tan Ms Vanessa Lee Choral Programmes Ms Regina Lee Ms Whitney Tan
DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS
Development & Sponsorship Mr Anthony Chng Ms Nikki Chuang Mr Chris Yong MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Ms Cindy Lim (Head) Mr Chia Han-Leon Ms Myrtle Lee Ms Jana Loh Ms Hong Shu Hui Ms Melissa Tan Ms Cheryl Pek Ms Khairani Basman Ms Dacia Cheang Ms Nur Shafiqah bte Othman CORPORATE SERVICES Mr Rick Ong (Head) Mr Alan Ong (Finance) Ms Goh Hoey Fen (Finance) Mr Md Zailani bin Md Said
HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATION Mr Wu Sze Yuen (Head) Mr Desmen Low Ms Melissa Lee Ms Evelyn Siew SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA Ms Pang Siu Yuin (Head) Mr Tan Yong Qing Ms Tang Ya Yun ABRSM Ms Hay Su-San (Head) Ms Patricia Yee Ms Lai Li-Yng Mr Joong Siow Chong
SUPPORTED BY
PATRON SPONSOR
Tote Board Group
OFFICIAL POSTAGE SPONSOR
OFFICIAL HOTEL
OFFICIAL TRAINING PARTNER
OFFICIAL RADIO STATION
OFFICIAL OUTDOOR MEDIA PARTNER
OFFICIAL AIRLINE
SPONSORS
LEE FOUNDATION
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and registered under the Charities Act.
SSO.ORG.SG