Spirited Mahler Performance
by Michael on 2025-05-05Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - Thunder BayRating: 4 out of 5It was really a near miracle that the TBSO could mount a sprawling work like this so successfully with the resources available--two double basses instead of eight or ten, and so forth. Their was even an advantage in having some inner parts emerge more clearly they could than with a full complement. Alas, this also meant that controlling dynamic balance became near impossible in other parts. Very committed and largely excellent playing (and singing) made things work out. The first and third movements truly left little to be desired musically. The second movement was just that little bit too hurried to let the lyric gentleness speak out. The fourth movement was superbly conducted and played, but weighed down by some wobbly vibrato. (I cannot comment on the finale, a disjointed medley which has never made musical sense to me. It seemed to be very well done, though!) As always, it was very heartening to see a near (?) full house, with younger listeners in what I pray are enough numbers to sustain this kind of very brave and noble artistic endeavour. Thank you, TBSO & chorus & soloists!