University orchestra concert

Participants

Orchestra of the College of Music Freiburg
Daniela Zib → soprano
Scott Sandmeier → Conductor

Program

Gustav Mahler → Symphony No. 4 in G major

The Orchestra of the College of Music Freiburg performs Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4 in G major. The piece from 1901 was way ahead of its time at the time and left audiences somewhat perplexed. Today, it is considered one of the greatest works of classical music.

Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4 in G major was completed in 1901, at a time between Romanticism and Modernism. It broke with many of the usual Romantic patterns and was so far ahead of its time that it overwhelmed the audience at its premiere. The work depicts a heavenly world after death from the perspective of a child. However, like the earthly world, it is not perfect and lives from distortions and fractures. You can hear this in the music: at the beginning it is still cheerful and dance-like, with elements of children's songs, but as the piece progresses it becomes darker, shriller and more chaotic. Simone Zgraggen, violin professor at the College of Music in Fribourg, who plays in the piece, says: "It's a magnificent work and an experience for all of us to be able to play it. When almost 80 musicians play, feel and breathe together, it's magical, pure happiness."

Gustav Mahler composes "life"

"Gustav Mahler said about himself that he composes life. This describes very well how his music sounds: it is always multi-layered, folk music mixed with tragic music, a juxtaposition of feeling and playing. The symphony is one of the greatest works of classical music," explains Simone Zgraggen. Her role in preparing the concert is to train future concertmasters and section leaders among the students. These are the musicians who come directly after the conductor in an orchestra's hierarchy and who help lead and guide the orchestra. "My job during the rehearsal phase is to play along with the violins myself and practise with different students how they can act as concertmasters or section leaders. The aim is for all 80 musicians to merge into a single unit."

Photo: Ramon Manuel Schneeweiß