Concert - Mahler's Song of the Night

The Cleveland Orchestra Mahler concert 'Song of the Night' will be repeated at the Konzerthaus in Vienna on 18 October 2023. Simon will sing a selection of songs by Mahler in this concert.

From the Cleveland Orchestra website:

"Simon Keenlyside is one of the world’s most sought-after and charismatic singers, noted for his versatility and highly charged performances on stage. He joins music director Franz Welser-Möst for an evening of Mahler, featuring the moody, enigmatic Seventh symphony, sometimes called Song of the Night."

Programme

Mahler

“Frühlingsmorgen” from Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit (orch. Berio)
“Ablösung im Sommer” from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (orch. Berio)
“Revelge” from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
“Urlicht” from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
“Rheinlegendchen” from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
“Hans und Grethe” from Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit (orch. Berio)

Interval

Mahler

Symphony No. 7

A concert of Mozart, Mahler and Prokofiev will also be performed at the Brucknerhaus, Linz, on 20 October. This is a private event.

The concert was streamed live to Medici TV subscribers and was available to watch until 25 October 2023.

SOUNDBITES

"Eigentlich hatte Welser-Möst krankheitsbedingt zumindest bis Jahresende alle Termine (darunter auch eine Premiere an der Wiener Staatsoper) abgesagt, Mit ganz wenigen Ausnahmen, die im Wiener Konzerthaus und im Brucknerhaus in Linz zu erleben waren. Mit „seinem“ Cleveland Orchester absolvierte der Star Dirigent zwei Mal ein Programm mit Werken von Gustav Mahler. Ihm und den Gästen aus Cleveland zur Seite: Bariton Simon Keenlyside.

Sechs ausgewählte Mahler-Lieder interpretierte der Brite einfühlsam, wortdeutlich, aber durchaus mit kernigem Nachdruck. Welser-Möst und die fabelhaften Damen und Herren aus Cleveland boten Keenlyside das dafür passende Fundament."

"Due to illness, Welser-Möst had actually cancelled all dates (including a premiere at the Vienna State Opera), at least until the end of the year, with very few exceptions, which were at the Vienna Konzerthaus and the Brucknerhaus in Linz. With "his" Cleveland Orchestra, the star conductor twice completed a programme of works by Gustav Mahler. At his and the Cleveland guests' side was baritone Simon Keenlyside.

The British singer interpreted six selected Mahler songs sensitively, every word clearly pronounced and with robust emphasis. Welser-Möst and the fabulous ladies and gentlemen from Cleveland provided Keenlyside with the appropriate foundation."

".. A sus 64 años, el estado actual de la voz de Simon Keenlyside acusa el paso del tiempo. Sin embargo el londinense siempre ha sido un «animal de escena» y no pierde ocasión de dotar de componente teatral a cada una de sus interpretaciones....Con «Urlicht», la canción donde Mahler se pregunta por su alma y por su vida eterna, y que el compositor sacó del ciclo Wunderhorn para introducir en la Sinfonía Resurrección, el Sr. Keenlyside nos puso la piel de gallina en un lied que solemos escuchar en voces femeninas pero que él hizo suyo...."

"..At 64 years old, the current state of Simon Keenlyside's voice shows the passage of time. However, the Londoner has always been a "stage animal" and does not miss the opportunity to provide a theatrical component to each of his performances...With "Urlicht", the song where Mahler wonders about his soul and his eternal life, and which the composer took from the Wunderhorn cycle to introduce in the Resurrection Symphony , Mr. Keenlyside gave us goosebumps in a lied that we usually hear sung by a female voice, but that he made his own...."

"..Als Vorspiel gab es sechs Mahler-Lieder, die mit dem auf Ausdruck setzenden SK die Symphonie vorbereiteten .."

"..As a prelude there were six Mahler songs with Simon Keenlyside, who prepared expressively for the symphony..."

"..Simon Keenlyside war der fabelhafte Solist .."

"..Simon Keenlyside was the fabulous soloist.."