Colorado Mahlerfest

Kenneth Woods, conductor April Fredrick, soprano MahlerFest Orchestra WAGNER Prelude to Die Meistersinger STRAUSS Metamorphosen MAHLER Symphony No. 4 in G Major Strauss composed his piece for 23 solo string players in 1944-45, when it was clear Germany would lose the war. It is a meditation on the end of the tradition that begins with Mozart and Beethoven, reached its summit in Mahler, and then descends into the darkness of Metamorphosen. Mahler’s Fourth Symphony may be his most intimate and personal work. It is the shortest of his symphonies and calls for the smallest orchestra (if you like the big stuff, come hear An Alpine Symphony on Saturday night. We promise a few surprises in the orchestration that night!). It is as if Mahler is drawing you into the most personal and vulnerable corners of his inner world. Soprano April Fredrick, a MahlerFest favorite who can be seen in last year’s performance of Symphony No. 2, will join Kenneth Woods and the MahlerFest Orchestra for this finale performance of the season. Pre-concert discussion at 2:30 PM