Psappha – Das Lied von der Erde
Thursday 19 March 2020, 7.30pm at Halle St Peter’s, Manchester
Programme
Harrison Birtwistle Carmen Arcadiae Mechanicae Perpetuum
Matthew Grouse wood.pulse
Gary Carpenter Fischietto è Morto
Mahler, arr. Schoenberg Das Lied von der Erde
Overview
Written in deep despair following the death of his daughter and the diagnosis of a debilitating heart condition, Gustav Mahler’s final, colossal song cycle ends with an epic goodbye – Der Abschied, or ‘The Farewell’ – that he didn’t live long enough to hear performed in public. Arnold Schoenberg declared it the Mahler work that ‘points furthest into the future’, then took it there himself with this arrangement for chamber orchestra. Also tonight, two distinctly playful pieces with unlikely inspirations: Harrison Birtwistle’s homage to Paul Klee and Gary Carpenter’s trombone-led tribute to the art of the clown. The premiere of Matthew Grouse’s invigorating bassoon solo completes the evening.
Chloé van Soeterstède Conductor
Sarah Castle Mezzo-soprano
Ben Johnson Tenor
Katy Jones Trombone