music

BBCSSO/Runnicles review

Usher Hall, Edinburgh Colliding complex and contrasting moods, Mahler’s Das Klagende Lied was rendered with clarity and conviction

BBCSSO/Runnicles review

TL;DR

  • Mahler's Das Klagende Lied fuses various musical genres, creating a blend of high tragedy and light amusement.
  • The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performed the cantata, incorporating Mahler's later revisions.
  • Vocal soloists included Kathleen O’Mara, Catriona Morison, John Findon, and Nicholas Brownlee.
  • The Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the girls of the National Youth Choir of Scotland contributed to the performance.
  • The concert also featured a performance of Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony.
  • Donald Runnicles conducted both pieces, emphasizing different aspects of each composer's style.