The Mahler Players open our 2023/24 season with Mahler’s 6th Symphony in September, continue our exploration of Wagner with two concert performances of the third Act from his opera Siegfried in December and in May we will present Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony alongside two exciting works by Stravinsky.
Each programme will be performed in the atmospheric surroundings of Inverness Cathedral and Strathpeffer Pavilion.
Wagner Siegfried Act 3 (concert performance)
Saturday 2nd December 8pm at Inverness Cathedral
Sunday 3rd December 3pm at Strathpeffer Pavilion
Wanderer Sir John Tomlinson
Siegfried Brad Cooper
Brünnhilde Lee Bisset
Erda Rozanna Madylus
Conducted by Tomas Leakey (2nd December) and Anthony Negus (3rd December)
Stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks
Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite
Beethoven Symphony No. 6 Pastorale
Saturday 4th May 8pm at Inverness Cathedral
Sunday 5th May 3pm at Strathpeffer Pavilion
Conducted by Tomas Leakey
We open our 2023/24 season with Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, sometimes nicknamed the “Tragic”. Composed in 1903/04, when Mahler was at the height of his powers, it features some of his most moving and daring music, from the beautiful theme dedicated to his wife Alma in the first movement to the gut-wrenching hammer blows in the finale. The symphony will receive its first performance in the Highlands in a new version for chamber orchestra of 35 players by Rob Farmer.
In December we continue with Act 3 from Wagner’s opera Siegfried in concert. We are delighted to welcome back legendary bass Sir John Tomlinson to sing the role of the Wanderer, Brad Cooper in the title role, Lee Bisset as Brünnhilde and Rozanna Madylus as Erda. This is a very special chance to hear Wagnerian singing of the most extraordinary power in the immediacy of our small venues. Siegfried, the third opera in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, follows the coming of age of the hero Siegfried and in Act 3 he overcomes the Wanderer and Loge’s wall of fire to reach a mountaintop on which his future lover Brünnhilde had been imprisoned in sleep. Composed after a 12-year hiatus in Wagner’s work on the mammoth 15-hour Ring Cycle, the music is some of the most gripping ever written.
In May we invite you to join us as we continue our exploration of Beethoven’s symphonies, this time with the Sixth. Nicknamed the Pastoral, this Symphony contains some of Beethoven’s most bucolic and memorable melodies as well as strokes of terror in the famous “storm” movement. It will be preceded by two neoclassical works by Stravinsky: Dumbarton Oaks and the Pulcinella Suite. With endless rhythmic fascinations and inspiration from Baroque composers Bach and Pergolesi, these works will have you on the edge of your seat.
We look forward to seeing you at some or all of our concerts.
Our venues
Inverness Cathedral and Strathpeffer Pavilion are both fully accessible. Wheelchair and companion seats can be reserved on request – please send us a message and we will be delighted to arrange this. If you have any questions please just contact us.
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What audiences say about the Mahler Players
“An orchestra and performance quality that is equal to any comparable professional organisation in this country and internationally.”
“The friends who were with me had never been to a Mahler Players concert before and they were bowled over by it.”
“I was astonished to hear the Mahler Players for the first time and hear just how good they were.“
“Last night was the first time we went to a live orchestral performance and it was wonderful. Thank you for the incredible show.“
“What an incredible standard we witnessed here in the Highlands with an excellent mix of the cream of our local musicians and World class performers. The seats are so comfortable and acoustics were excellent.“
“I found it very moving. I felt it was a real privilege that I could have the experience of music of such quality, in a relatively intimate environment and without having to travel to London or Edinburgh.“
“This is my 4th time seeing the Mahler Players. They never fail to impress with their mastery of the works they perform. Tonight was no exception and it was absolutely brilliant. Thank you!“
These concerts are generously supported by Tony Shoults, The Hugh Fraser Foundation, HRI-Munro Architecture, The Wagner Society, The Wagner Society of Scotland and the members of The Mahler Circle.
