VSO Season Finale - Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

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not only necessitate a severe limitation ofhis typically strenuous physical activities,but would also result in a drastic shorteningof his life expectancy. The resulting life ofcompromise – the thing his lofty artisticstandards made him despise above all –added yet another layer of despair to hisagonized state of mind.By fortunate coincidence, a friend hadrecently given him The Chinese Flute, HansBethge’s German paraphrases of Chinesepoems that date back to the eighth century.In their melancholy wisdom, Mahler foundthe ideal embodiment of his emotions. Withadditions and revisions of his own, six of thembecame the text for The Song of the Earth.Prize winner from theInternational Society of Poets,Washington DC, Miriam Batts’ Aiko’s Journey parts1 and 2 are part memoir, part historical fiction. Theytell the story of a girl of mixed Korean and Japanesedecent living in Japan during the 1930s and ‘40’s.“Readers will hunger to discover what fateawaits the characters, and enjoy each step oftheir journey. An addictive page turner.“Kirkus DiscoveriesAvailable at: Trafford Publishing: www.trafford.com1-888-232-4444, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden at578 Carall St., Vancouver and from author:mbatts@telus.net50 allegroNostalgia pervades the music, but rarely ina self-pitying manner. The end result is aburning, uplifting ode to life, not a morbid,tear-drenched fixation upon death. Hecontinued to express such feelings in theNinth Symphony, which he completed afterwriting this work, and in the Tenth, which layunfinished at his death.Mahler called The Song of the Earth asymphony, a designation that continueshis previous practice of expanding thedimensions and diversifying the contents ofthis musical form. Like his Third Symphony,for example, it includes voices and has sixmovements. Here he divides the sectionsevenly, in alteration, between solos for tenorand mezzo-soprano voices (he indicatedthe alternative of the mezzo songs beingperformed by a baritone, but this has beendone only rarely). The orchestration – rich andringing, or spare and delicate, as the text andmood dictate – matches word and sound withconsummate insight. The influence of time –night and day, the changing of the seasons– is regularly and strongly felt.The Drinking-Song of Earth’s Misery drawsthe listener instantly in, offering a vibranttoast to life through a balance of stirringdeclamation and nostalgia. The Lonely Onein Autumn, is quiet, chilly and mournful.Three briefer, lighter pieces follow. Youthpresents a warm, cheerful surface, reflectingpast innocence. The mature, cynical Mahlerrecognizes this as wishful thinking. Beauty,too remains frustratingly transitory, as thefollowing song indicates so wistfully. Seekingescape in drink and self-deception is thesubject of the superficially jovial fifth song,The Drunkard in Spring.The expansive final song, The Farewell, isMahler’s supreme achievement in vocalmusic. The two expansive stanzas, telling oftwo friends who meet for the last time, areseparated by a funeral march for orchestraalone. After a final, rapturous ode to the earthand to life, the music rises disembodiedabove human cares, dissolving into silence tothe other-worldly rippling of the celesta andthe mezzo’s fading, repeated, “forever…” ■Program Notes © 2011 Don Anderson
vancouver symphony foundationEnsure the VSO’s futurewith a special gift to theVancouver SymphonyFoundation, establishedto secure the long termsuccess of the VancouverSymphony Orchestra.Tax creditable gifts of cash, securities and planned giftsare all gratefully received by the Vancouver SymphonyFoundation, and your gift is enhanced by the availabilityof matching funds from the Federal Government.Please call Leanne Davis at604.684.9100 extension 236or email leanne@vancouversymphony.ca to make a gift orlearn more about the naming opportunities that are availableto honour a family member, celebrate the memory of a lovedone or simply recognize your generosity.Support the Power of Music We extend our sincere thanks to these donors, whose gifts will ensure theVancouver Symphony Orchestra remains a strong and vital force in our community long into the future:$3,000,000 or moreGovernment of Canada through theDepartment of Canadian HeritageEndowment Incentives Program$1,000,000 or moreMartha Lou HenleyProvince of BC through the BC ArtsRenaissance Fund under thestewardship of the VancouverFoundation$500,000 or moreWayne and Leslie Ann IngramThe Estate of Jim and Edith le Nobel$250,000 or moreCarter (Family) Deux Mille FoundationChan Foundation of CanadaRon and Ardelle CliffEstate of Steve FlorisWerner (Vern) and Helga HöingMr. Hassan and Mrs.Nezhat KhosrowshahiThe Tong and GeraldineLouie Family FoundationHermann and Erika StöltingArthur H. Willms Family$100,000 or moreEstate of Winslow W. BennettMary and Gordon ChristopherJaney Gudewill and Peter Cherniavskyin memory of their FatherJan Cherniavsky and GrandmotherMrs. B.T. RogersIn memory of John S. HodgeMichael and Estelle JacobsonS.K. Lee in memory ofMrs. Cheng Koon LeeKatherine Lu in memory of ProfessorsMr. and Mrs. Ngou KangWilliam and Irene McEwen FundSheahan and Gerald McGavin, C.M., O.B.C.Mrs. Yvonne R. McGraneEstate of John RandNancy and Peter Paul SaundersKen and Patricia ShieldsGeorge and Marsha TaylorWhittall Family Fund$50,000 or moreAdera Development CorporationBrazfin Investments Ltd.Mary Ann ClarkEstate of Rachel Tancred RoutEstate of Mary Flavelle StewartLeon and Joan TueyIn memory of John Wertschek,Cello Section Player$25,000 or moreJeff and Keiko AlexanderEstate of Dorothy Freda BaileyMrs. May Brown, C.M., O.B.C.Mrs. Margaret M. DuncanW. Neil Harcourt in memory ofFrank N. HarcourtDaniella and John IckeMollie Massie and Hein PoulusEstate of Margot Lynn McKenziePaul MoritzMrs. Gordon T. Southam, C.M.Maestro Bramwell Tovey andMrs. Lana Penner-ToveyAnonymous (1)$10,000 or moreMrs. Marti BarregarKathy and Stephen BellringerMrs. Geraldine BielyRobert G. Brodie and K. Suzanne BrodieDouglas and Marie-Elle CarrothersMr. Justice Edward Chiasson andMrs. Dorothy ChiassonDr. Marla KiessChantel O’Neil and Colin ErbDan and Trudy PekarskyBob and Paulette ReidEstate of Alice Ruamy RumballNancy and Robert StewartBeverley and Eric WattAnonymous (1)$5,000 or moreEstate of Clarice Marjory BankesCharles and Barbara FilewychEstate of Muriel F. GilchristEdwina and Paul HellerKaatza FoundationProf. Kin LoRex and Joanne McLennanMarion L. Pearson and James M. OrrMelvyn and June Tanemura$2,500 or moreIn memory of Lynd ForgusonJohn and Marietta HurstMr. Gerald A. NordheimerHarvey and Connie PermackRobert and Darlene SpevakowWinfred Mary (Mollie) SteeleEstate of Jan Wolf WynandAnonymous (1)Due to space limitations, donationsof $2,500 or more are listed, but everygift is sincerely appreciated andgratefully received. THANK YOU.allegro 51
Page 5: I N T H I S I S S U E3 the orchestr
Page 8: KAZUYOSHIAKIYAMAAUGUSTIN HADELICHCO
Page 14 and 15: Kazuyoshi Akiyama conductorFor a bi
Page 16 and 17: NATALIE MACMASTERPIERRE SIMARDCONCE
Page 18: BRAMWELL TOVEYALEXANDER GAVRYLYUKCO
Page 21: International Piano Competition and
Page 24 and 25: KENNETH SLOWIK JOAN BLACKMAN CHRIST
Page 26 and 27: Johann Sebastian Bachb. Eisenach, G
Page 28: CONCERT PROGRAMVANCOUVER SYMPHONY A
Page 31 and 32: Dorothy Changb. Winfield, Illinois
Page 33 and 34: my first trip to the symphonyDear V
Page 36 and 37: theatre with students, service orga
Page 38: JEFF TYZIKBYRON STRIPLINGCARMENBRAD
Page 41 and 42: with George C. Wolfe and Gregory Hi
Page 43: Tania Miller conductorThe 2010/2011
Page 46: amwell toveyCONCERT PROGRAMPwC MAST
Page 49: Benjamin Britten (LordBritten of Al
Page 53 and 54: amwell tovey WITH THE VSODAL RICHAR
Page 55 and 56: allegro 55
Page 57 and 58: Scott Goodb. Toronto, Ontario / Apr
Page 59 and 60: at the concertConcert COURTESIESFor
Page 61: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM SPONSORS AND PA

VSO Season Finale - Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

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