They will perform Gustav Mahler’s Eighth Symphony in the Tlaqná room

Mexico City. The Xalapa Symphony Orchestra (OSX) will bring together 350 artists tomorrow and the day after tomorrow in the Tlaqná room, in the capital of Veracruz, to perform Gustav Mahler’s Symphony number 8, also called the Symphony of a Thousandas part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Universidad Veracruzana (UV).

In interview with The Conference, Martín Lebel said that it is a historic concert: “A performance to remember for a lifetime. It is a piece that is not forgotten. The audience that attends, in 20 or 30 years, will say: ‘I remember that I heard this fantastic work in Tlaqná.'”

The piece written by Mahler in the summer of 1906 and revised for more than three years is divided into two. In the first part he used the medieval hymn Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, creative spirit), attributed to the monk Rabanus Maurus, as well as some words that Mahler changed according to his needs. In the second, with the music composed, he used the last scene of the second part of Faustoby Goethe, omitting some verses and reversing the order of others.

The philologist Alberto Pérez Amador Adam wrote for the hand program that will be distributed at the concerts this weekend, which is the dialogue of a musical work with two other literary works, which contains a 150-year-old symphonic tradition.

According to the OSX, “Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major encompasses a universe of emotions, channeled through all manner of reflective passages, from intimate to overwhelming outbursts of choral and orchestral sound.

The reason for calling this work a symphony can be justified by the interrelation between its movements and by the sonata form used in the first. Mahler treats the voices like other symphonic instruments and subjects the entire group to extensive contrapuntal games.

This symphony is rarely performed because it is one of the most complex choral pieces in the classical orchestral repertoire.

In the weekend galas, whose seats are sold out, the choirs of the Universidad Veracruzana will participate, directed by Jorge Cózatl; the Choral Camerata of the UV Faculty of Music, directed by Josafat García Melo; from the Higher Institute of Music of the State of Veracruz, directed by Adriana Sanabria; Wahine, driven by Rodolfo Obregón; Orfix, conducted by Deseret Báez, and the BUAP CCU Symphony, led by José Antonio de la Rosa Esparza.

Also, eight guest soloists of international stature: Tania Solís and Graciela Morales, sopranos; Gabriela Flores and Belem Rodríguez, mezzo-sopranos; Angélica Alejandre, soprano; Jafet Maldonado, bass; Gilberto Amaro, tenor, and Genaro Sulvarán, baritone.

To bring them all together, the director of OSX launched a call six months ago. In a piece like this it’s all about anticipation, a lot of anticipation, otherwise it wouldn’t be possible. We did some auditions, but I already knew others. I’ve worked with some soloists and they jumped on board right away..

Martin Lebel said that in recent days there had been many essays with a high degree of complexity, because it is necessary coordinate several choirs, one of them children’s, eight soloists, four harps, a piano, an organ. There are many musicians.

On the day of the presentation, OSX will use the entire stage of the Tlaqná room, which has an area of ​​265 square meters and has capacity for 110 musicians and 100 singers. In addition, they will use the seats on the balcony at the back, where all the choirs will be located, while the soloists will occupy a place next to the conductor.

The only one who will be upstairs is Tania Solís, an excellent singer and, from the balcony, María Gloriosa will delight us with her voice.

The last time the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 was in 2001, under the baton of Francisco Savín Vázquez (1929-2018), who directed the OSX for 20 years, in three different stages.

Artistic consolidation

Conductor Francisco Savín is credited with overcoming monetary shortages to keep the symphony’s activities afloat, as well as achieving the artistic consolidation of the ensemble, leading it to perform, for the first time in Mexico, scores as complex as Arnold’s Gurrelieder Schoenberg, in addition to Gustav Mahler’s Eighth Symphony, which is part of his discography.

The orchestra has had Mahler’s music in its DNA for a long time. When I started working with her, many musicians asked me to keep Mahler in the programming, the members of it have the desire to interpret him and also the abilityassured Lebel, who recognizes that in the same way that there are orchestras, such as the UNAM Philharmonic, that are identified by playing José Revueltas, the Xalapa Symphony is known for its interpretations of Mahler.

I am very happy because it is a very interesting challenge. I have an excellent cast and well-prepared choirs. I am calm and confident that we will have a historic presentationLebel concluded.