The Plainfield Symphony Concert - Magnificent Mahler

Magnificent Mahler Concert

Under the baton of Charles Prince, the Plainfield Symphony will present its concluding concert of the 2013/2014 season with "Magnificent Mahler" on Saturday, May 3. The program will be completely devoted to the unique opportunity to hear Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.
Mahler, born in 1860, completed Symphony No.5 in 1902 during one of the happiest times of his life. It represented a completely new direction in his output that was concerned with virtuosic orchestral technique, the abandonment of specific "programs," and a heavy emphasis on contrapuntal writing, which is seen most clearly in the finale. This symphony, with its progression of moods, its use of a funeral march, and the specific association of the fourth movement with his love for Alma Schindler, clearly possesses an inner program. The "Adagietto" fourth movement is arguably Mahler's most famous single piece of music, and is the most frequently performed extract from his works.

Conductor Charles Prince is an avid admirer and champion of the music of Gustav Mahler similar to his mentor and teacher, Leonard Bernstein. Concertgoers have the opportunity to hear Charles speak about Mahler and the Symphony in a pre-concert "Chat with Charles" beginning at 6 pm.