Nederlands Studenten Orkest pull off a thrilling Mahler 5

Lilian Farahani tours the Netherlands with Frans-Aert Burghgraef and the Nederlands Studenten Orkest to perform Mahler 5 and a new commission by Sílvia Lanao.

Performing Mahler’s 5^th Symphony in C sharp minor, one of the hardest symphonies in the repertoire, is a huge undertaking. But for the Nederlands Studenten Orkest, an orchestra comprised of university students studying subjects as varied as archaeology, biomedical technology, particle astrophysics, medicine, forensic pathology, law and dentistry (and who come together just once a year to rehearse and perform) the challenge is even greater. How would they cope with the demands of a score full of detail and refinement? Would the brass meet the immense challenges, and what of the famous trumpet and French horn solos?

The new commission

In keeping with tradition, the first half was dedicated to a newly commissioned work. Tonight’s theme, the role of women in music, found voice in two new commissions written by Spanish composer, Sílvia Lanao. The first, Ein Glück ohne Ruh (Happiness without peace), a tense exploration of tonal resolutions for orchestra, contrasted with the second, In Einem Briefe (In a Letter) for soprano and orchestra.

Referencing conflicting emotions recorded in diaries by Alma Schlinder during her marriage to the famous and demanding creative genius Gustav Mahler, Lilian Farahani the Dutch Iranian soprano navigated the emotionally charged, sophisticated and often dissonant musical language with sincerity and charisma. Rich melodic lines, bestowing a warm comforting blanket over the meandering accompaniment, abounded, while unexpected and hypnotic double-bass counter melodies kept all on their toes. The clever inclusion of some of Alma’s own songs gave an additional insight into a figure whose music we know very little about.

Mahler 5

After the interval, a confident trumpet triplet fanfare, owing much to the Leonard Bernstein school of delivery, heralded the main event of the evening, Mahler’s 5^th Symphony. And as we moved towards the first climax, the orchestra just breathed. Trumpets soared, clarinet bells held aloft, and dark menacing trombones and tuba resonated before flutes whisked us away to a more hopeful future.

With a hop and a skip from the podium, we tumbled into the Austrian countryside’s playful and lilting Ländler theme. The horn section was on fire, exhibiting real strength in depth! Standing tall and looking completely at ease, Sybren Faber’s solo lifted the evening’s music-making to a new level. His amazingly assured, bold yet nuanced reading, delivered with impeccable timing, would be at home on any professional stage. Bravo!

Congratulations must also go to conductor Frans-Aert Burghgraef whose ability to find stillness and calm, an oft under-rated skill, was showcased to the full in the Adagietto, Mahler’s love letter to Alma and the inspiration for tonight’s programme. Under his clear, precise, and expressive guidance, balancing gentle encouragement with measured restraint, the string section gave an impassioned and urgent reading. One full of tenderness and even uncertainty.

Clean contrapuntal lines dominated the fugal finale notably from an animated bassoon section who clearly relished each melodic utterance. The Muziekcentrum positively hummed in appreciation as time and time again, thrilling climaxes tempted and taunted until at last, the brass were finally unleashed. What a joyous night!

A special place in Dutch society for the Nederlands Studenten Orkest

But the concert tonight was about something much more than a fine performance of a Mahler symphony. The NSO’s very existence over the past 52 years, supported by universities across the Netherlands, is recognition of the importance of MUSIC in education. Not just for those performing, but for the hundreds of students who benefitted from the discounted ticket scheme, and may even have attended a classical music concert for the very first time.

In the true spirit of Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle who advocated education of the whole being and not just an acquisition of knowledge, the NSO’s existence illustrates the power of learning as part of a community, and of studying a breadth of subjects. Students on stage, our leaders, movers, and shakers of tomorrow, will enter the workplace imbued with a rich cultural appreciation and understanding of the arts which will stay with them as they traverse their varied careers. Dutch society will be all the richer for it.

Here’s to another 52 years of the NSO.

This concert was reviewed at the Wilminktheater en Muziekcentrum, Enschede on Wednesday 21st February, 2024

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