MAHLER (arr. Iain Farrington) Symphony No. 9
arranged for chamber orchestra

Covent Garden Sinfonia
Ben Palmer conductor

A rare chance to hear Mahler’s Ninth Symphony in a version for chamber orchestra by master-arranger Iain Farrington. Mahler completed his Ninth in 1909, but didn’t live to hear its first performance in 1912, given by Bruno Walter and the Vienna Philharmonic. 

Farrington consciously avoids recreating the instrumentation of the Mahler arrangements made for Schoenberg’s Society for Private Musical Performancesin Vienna between 1918-1921, aiming instead to create a full orchestral picture from a chamber orchestra, using only the instruments found in the original score. This pared-down version brings Mahler’s chamber-like writing a new sense of intimacy and clarity, bringing it closer to the world of Berg, Webern and Schoenberg, without compromising on the grandiose moments, or the sarcastic bite of the third movement Rondo-Burleske.

Under the direction of Founder and Artistic Director Ben Palmer since 2007, Covent Garden Sinfonia is firmly established as one of London’s most versatile and dynamic chamber orchestras. This event marks the opening of CGS’s 2019/20 season.

Tickets: £20 • £15 • limited 25% concessions available
Box office: 020 3879 9555
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