Responses taken from the Mahler Players audience questionnaire, June 2019
I must have seen a complete Ring Cycle at least five times in my life and can honestly say that I have never been as excited by a performance as I was by yours last night. It seemed perfectly paced, completely authentic musically in spite of the reduced forces and wonderfully sung by your soloists. You must be very proud of what you have achieved and I congratulate you most warmly.
I have been privileged to attend many a performances of Wagner’s operas in Australia , USA and London and honestly this performance just came together as a complete satisfying whole.
So glad I have settled in the Highlands now I know there is an orchestra of this calibre and which is willing and able to take risks.
A wonderful, moving performance which left me with tears of joy and admiration. Having watched a live streaming from the Met earlier in the year, this ensemble gave that ensemble a very good run for its money. Fabulous!
Wonderful performance by all, fluid and perfectly paced. Most of the time, I didn’t notice there wasn’t a full orchestra. Exceptional Sword monologue, thrilling cries of Wälse! from a baritonal tenor perfect for the role, seemingly untiring. And what sensitivity from Sieglinde in her response. Thank you to all concerned.
A standing ovation, well deserved for a stunning performance with all the drama and grandeur of a much bigger group of musicians, so much ambition and attention to detail – and can only wait impatiently for the next chapter in the Wagner project from the Mahler Players.
Responses taken from the Mahler Players audience questionnaire, June 2017
We were visiting from America and happened by the cathedral just in time for the performance. What a wonderful experience! Superb musicianship in a beautiful setting made it the highlight of our stay in Inverness!
Amazingly high standard of playing. Sounded like a much larger orchestra! Great to hear young new talent in the north of Scotland rather than just central belt or London.
What a success! A superb programme, each piece performed splendidly. It was a total joy and the three pieces reflected so well one with another. Thank you for a very special evening’s performance!
The lead violinist was sensational. A wonderful performance. The venue was perfect for the performance. Wagner was a difficult piece made to look easy. Can’t wait to hear more from the Mahler Players.
Responses taken from Mahler Players audience questionnaire, September 2016
A much-loved event in Inverness. Long may it be able to continue.
Your concerts have all been excellent. Thoroughly enjoy them – they give me so much pleasure. Thank you for all you do.
A stunning, breath-taking performance!
A demanding but rewarding listening experience.
Very moving and emotional. A joy!
A very moving performance. Beautiful playing of a marvellous piece of music – true musicianship. Thank you so much.
A total delight; control and emotion in full measure. Well done!
Responses taken from Mahler Players audience questionnaire, April 2016
Very good indeed. I have heard Das Lied von der Erde many times. Your performance this evening was beautiful.
I was absolutely stunned with your performance!
A well-thought-out programme helping a not very educated listener to understand the link between music of many centuries.
A superbly crafted performance that touched every one of my emotions several times over.
The silence at the end said it all. Wonderful performance. Flowing, flexible tempi, allowing whole phrases to be taken in one breath, sometimes accelerating unexpectedly into climaxes but always making sense. Reduced orchestration allows singers to be heard, even in the opening Trinklied, as well as every detail of the scoring. Intelligent programming – from re-imagined Bach to one-to-a-part Mahler!
Marvellous, exceptional musicianship.
Responses taken from Mahler Players audience questionnaire, November 2015
Once again an excellent performance. I had no idea whether a chamber arrangement of Mahler 5 would work, but it does! Das unbegreifliche/Hier ist getan (“The incomprehensible/here is done”). Impressive 1st half too – difficult music played well and intelligibly
Wonderfully ambitious programme, superbly realised.
I have not previously attended your concerts, believing that ‘Mahler in Miniature’ was a contradiction in terms, but the orchestra, and in particular the French Horns, managed to generate a remarkably authentic Mahlerian sound.
Responses taken from Mahler Players audience questionnaire, June 2015
What a truly memorable and enjoyable concert. It was so professional in the best sense of the word. Congratulations to both singers and players. Very moving and worth the journey.
Great soloists with a very professional ensemble.
Wonderful performance, fascinating programming, outstanding soloists – what’s not to like!
A wonderful evening! Full marks for risk-taking! Thank you all very much!
A wonderful evening – a good programme and an excellent performance.
Wonderful bit of programming, and full marks for a commission. Pärt also a winner.
Very impressive competent musicians.
I thought this was a first rate performance with excellent interpretations of a challenging programme. Splendid show, well done!
Wonderful evening – thank you! Great programming and talented ensemble.
Wonderfully played and sung. Enjoyed it very much.
All the soloists were excellent. Mr Longworth clearly has a great future in composing.
We are so fortunate in this area to have so many wonderful musicians, who are prepared to give up their time and energy to provide us with such wonderful performances. Thank you.
Excellent programme. Refreshing concept. Lovely to hear this music played by small ensemble. Exceptional singing and directing.
I thought all the instrumental playing was very good! And the singing. Glad I came!
I thought the selection of the programme was very good. It is refreshing to see a conductor whose aim is to let the music shine, not to make himself a star.
Very impressive. Well done for having the courage and vision to establish this ensemble.
The scale of the ensemble helps make the music more accessible to me. Really liked Pan’s Caprice and Fratres. I enjoyed the concert.
Really enjoyed it enormously. I’m having a wonderful time. Also, great to see so many young people in the audience.
This ensemble is excellent and has the capability to progress further given the support it deserves.
Very, very enjoyable and as always a fabulous performance from all of the Mahler musicians. Such talent and performance is always to such a high standard. Such a pleasure to listen to and I hope to return to another concerts in the near future.
I applaud your guts, bravery, dedication and professionalism! Long may you continue to travel onwards and upwards. Thank you!
A beautiful concert. Laura’s voice is wonderfully mellow and warm. Most enjoyable. Douglas’s too. Look forward to the next performance.
The performance was faultless, the instrumentalists were fantastic and the vocalists were amazing. Such a good night!
The singers were exceptional. Absolutely amazing performance.
Responses taken from Mahler Players online survey, September 2014
Refreshing and exciting.
We feel privileged to have such high standard music-making by locals.
Very enjoyable.
Very well conducted & performed and the venue’s acoustics were fine. I hadn’t heard the arrangement before and was pleased to find it faithful in character.
We really enjoyed it and would certainly attend again (our knowledge is rather limited of classical music).
Brilliant. As a devotee of Mahler for over 40 years, I was amazed at the sound and dynamic range within a small auditorium.
Absolutely fabulous, great musicianship and brilliant conducting – almost an electrical connection between conductor and audience.
Kenneth McMorran, 21st September 2014
Your Chamber Orchestra is truly superb, the Wagner was so very enjoyable and brought out the beauty and love contained in this piece.
Margaret and Dennis MacRae, 5th May 2014
We came to the concert on Saturday night, not knowing just what to expect!
The opening work Copland, a favourite piece of ours, was just amazing and wonderful, we felt inside the music so personal and enjoyable, all sections were so individually heard and the ensemble very very moving and enjoyable!
Then, sheer delight in the songs, the singer just captivated us beautifully and gave us a fresh insight into the masterpieces that they are! Orchestral accompaniment delicate and wonderful!
Well, what can we say about the Mahler Symphony, this massive work played by a handful of musicians? A complete triumph!
We left Strathpeffer for want of a better word ‘gobsmacked’ and delighted and being so happy that we did not miss such a wonderful night of music.
Thanks to everyone you all deserve the highest praise, can’t wait til the next September concert.“
Nick Speakman, 3rd May 2014
Great performance of the first symphony last night. The whole programme was excellent.
