Tuesday night, Hajime Teri Murai, music director of the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, no doubt will bring to light renewed appreciation of what he considers an under-appreciated “Symphony No. 7 in E” by Gustav Mahler.
“The seventh is the synthesis of a lot of styles, concepts and textures [Mahler] used up to that point,” Murai said. “It is probably as much autobiographical as his sixth, which ends tragically. The seventh comes to an optimistic conclusion.”
While not performed as much as the composer?s other works, the San Francisco Symphony just won a Grammy for Best Symphonic Recording for their CD featuring Mahler?s 7th.
The work, sometimes referred to as the Song of the Night, is the lengthiest piece in the evening?s repertoire, which begins at 8 at the Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall.
Therefore, Murai has chosen to open the evening?s concert with Shafer Mahoney?s “Sparkle.” Mahoney is a former Peabody faculty member, whose 1999 wind ensemble piece has received international attention and was commissioned by Oklahoma State University.
“This is a short, sprightly piece,” Murai said, “very energetic [and] perfect for openers.”
The next offering, Franz Haydn?s “Cello Concerto in C,” is a 30-minute work that, according to Murai, “is well on its way into the standard repertoire.” He added that it has lately received a tremendous amount of play.
The concerto showcases cello player ? and Haydn enthusiast ? Go Un Park. Park is a Peabody student and winner of the Peggy and Yale Gordon Concerto last spring. The excitement is present in her voice, even as she struggles in English to convey it.
“This [Haydn piece] I will play for the first time with an orchestra,” she said. And in answer to the question about the need for practice, she responded emphatically, “I think so!”
In this 150th anniversary year ? as in all of Peabody Institute’s history ? students are showcased in public performances. Director Jeffrey Sharkey, in a letter to prospective enrollees, writes “Peabody has had tremendous success training leading performers, composers and teachers throughout its 150 years.”
The Baltimore community of concert-goers is likewise enriched for the efforts.
If you go
Peabody Symphony Orchestra
» Venue: Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall, Peabody Institute, 17 E. Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore
» Time: 8 p.m. Tuesday
» Tickets: $18 ($10 for seniors, $8 for students) at the Peabody Box Office. Or call 410-659-8100 ext. 2
