The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is presenting “The Passion of Mahler's Fifth Symphony.” The symphony itself is on the program, as is Korngold's “Violin Concerto in D Major.” The conductor is David Danzmayr, and Stefan Jackiw is the violin soloist.
Gustav Mahler, although a prolific composer, was also a conductor, and became known for his skill as an opera conductor, briefly leading both the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. Mahler composed his monumental Fifth Symphony, which lasts more than an hour, during the period 1901-1902, and scored it for a large orchestra. The legendary conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert Von Karajan, said:
“A great performance of the Fifth is a transforming experience. The fantastic finale almost forces you to hold your breath.”
Also on the program is the violin concerto by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Korngold is best known for his epic scores for films such as “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” and “Anthony Adverse,” for which he won Oscars. In his concerto, he incorporates some of the themes from his film scores, so sharp-eared listeners who are also film fans may hear some familiar tunes. In addition, Mahler was a mentor to Korngold, and the concerto is dedicated to Alma, Mahler's widow.
The concert is set for March 13, from 7.00 pm until 9.00 pm, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. A matinee is set for the following day at 5.30 pm. Poster printing is often used to create publicity for events like this.