Without a doubt, Marina Mahler grand-daughter to Gustav Mahler, is a force of nature. As President and co-founder of the Mahler Foundation, her mission is “to share and spread the Mahler effect. The universal idea that art can create comfort, hope and positive action”. Saturday’s concert in the Concertgebouw’s Kleine Zaal as part of the Mahler Festival 2025 sought to address this vision head-on with two performances: one a world premiere, the other a new arrangement of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.
Both conceived by young (British) talent; both sought to cast Mahler’s music and legacy through a new and very different lens.
Conductor and arranger John Warner was joined by the New European Ensemble based in The Hague. Expectations were high.
The programme
The world premiere | The Mosaique of the Aire
Taking to the stage for a short introduction, Sebastian Black remarked how markedly different the post-Covid world is to that when the work was conceived, six years ago. Indeed, The Mosaique of the Aire which explores nature through an authoritarian system – in this case Christian – did appear to belong to another world, and one very much inspired by his teacher George Benjamin. In the intervening years, contemporary music seems to have mellowed, and the sometimes riotous cacophony has given way to increased emotional connection. Congratulations to soprano Keren Motseri for navigating her way through this blistering jungle.
The new arrangement
In contrast, Warner’s arrangement of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, written initially for his own orchestra’s tour through the Austrian Alps, posed a quite different challenge. How to capture the essence and expansive breadth of Mahler’s music with a small ensemble of just thirteen musicians? On the whole, the arrangement proved successful, however, I fear the horn may well have appreciated a fellow brass player to ease his rather onerous burden.
The Ruhevoll (poco adagio) was probably the strongest movement. Warner carefully constructed climaxes and found the line, helped by a talented and sensitive percussionist Ryoko Imai. Movement between sections worked well and lacked much of the indulgence found in earlier movements. Warner seemed to relax. He gave the music time to breathe, yet the temptation to try just that little bit too hard was too much for some, and coupled with some unexpected tempo choices, it felt like Mahler, shaken and not stirred.
The First Mahler Award
Taking to the stage, Marina Maher explained that the Mahler Foundation would award the first Mahler Award to someone who embodies the mission’s ideals and beliefs. And today’s winner, John Warner who she met high up an Austrian Alp when on tour with his Orchestra for the Earth, and playing Mahler’s music.
What is Mahler Beyond? Marina’s vision is for the work of Mahler to continue beyond the concert hall. New visitors, new works, new avenues. All this from the woman who loves hip-hop music. And never more so than in Amsterdam, “the centre of Mahler’s spirit”.
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This concert was reviewed on Saturday 17th May 2025 in the Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal
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