Few would have blamed composer Gustav Mahler had he written a cynical, somber work after the summer of 1907. His eldest daughter, Maria, died of scarlet fever, and his wife subsequently collapsed from the strain of the tragedy. Mahler was also diagnosed with a serious heart condition that would forever limit the outdoor activities he so enjoyed. What he composed, however, was hardly a dirge. “Das Lied von der Erde” (“Song of the Earth”) is a commentary based on seven poems translated from ancient Chinese texts. Maestra Marin Alsop, mezzo-soprano Theodora Hanslowe, tenor Simon O’Neill and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra present this most moving piece Saturday evening.
Each poem was written as an individual song performed by alternating tenor and mezzo-soprano voices. The last poem has been written as one movement but comprises two songs and is performed by Hanslowe.
| Onstage |
| Mahler’s ‘Song of the Earth’ |
| Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda |
| When: 8 p.m. Saturday |
| Info: $28 to $88; 887-BSO-1444; bso.org |
“This is the one that speaks most beautifully to me,” she said, almost reverently. “It is both tragic and uplifting, [and] to me, it’s about the end of life, but also about saying goodbye to pain; that the Earth goes on, spring comes, greenery blooms.”
“Teddy” Hanslowe is not a newcomer to “Das Lied von der Erde.” In fact, this Peabody graduate, who recently returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Alisa in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” has performed Mahler’s piece often enough to have the German text committed to memory. Still, the challenge for her remains in that last movement.
“It is very modern — the last movement,” she explained. “There are so many measures in different meter going on at the same time. It’s a spectacular musical swirl of gorgeous sound, but very hard to count.”
Hanslowe does not, however, view her individual pieces as operatic arias or sung dialogue. And while they are intense emotionally, each works independently of the other; and each one carries with it very personal and exposed feelings — yet ultimately liberating and hopeful.
