According to program notes, that was the first performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra of M5 but not the first performance in Philadelphia. While digging through some Philadelphia Orchestra programs at the library, I came across an announcement in the February 2, 3, 9, and 10, 1906 issues that Philadelphia would be performing Mahler 5 on February 23 and 24 that year. The announcement also stated that Mahler is a "modern of moderns. He may not be a genius in the positive sense of the word but he possesses extraordinary ability in painting other people's ideas in glowing and original colors. It is claimed that his orchestration is 'the ideal of tonal gluttony; it is fascinating, magnetic, seductive. As to orchestral coloring and euphony, his scores are unequaled by any living composer.' As for demands upon the virtuosity of an orchestra - well, Mahler out-Strausses Strauss."
Apparently the demands upon the virtuosity of the Philadelphians was a little more than they could handle, however. The actual program for February 23-24 shows that the Mahler was replaced by Schumann's Manfred Overture, Wagner's Flying Dutchman Overture and Brahm's Third Symphony. If they had played M5, then, of course, Anton Horner would have played the solo part. We know that Max Hess had performed the premiere in Cologne two years earlier, then was invited to go to London or Boston. He chose Boston. It seems that in the interim between the time of the Philadelphia announcement to the actual concert date, on February 12, 1906 the Boston Symphony (and Max Hess) had come to town with, you guessed it, Mahler 5. So, apparently Anton Horner never did get to play it. I'm wondering if it would have been different if Max Hess had gone to London instead. Dick Martz -- http://www.rjmartz.com/horns Horn Collection -------------- Original message from [email protected]: -------------- > I was not there as I was in HS in Michigan but feedback from people who > did hear it (Curtis horn students) was that it sucked! He made cuts and the > orchestra hated him. They said Mason played loud as hell, though. If you > are going to buy a recording, you should at least get what you pay for, > the whole piece but it might be good for laughs? > > KB > > > In a message dated 3/17/2010 1:02:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > [email protected] writes: > > I searched through the Berkshire Record Outlet saw some suitably obscure > recordings of the Mahler 5th, but no Neumann. > > I did find this one though, on Tahra: > > Mahler, Symphony #5. (Philadelphia Orchestra/ Scherchen. Rec. 10/30/64) > > Anybody know this performance? > > > Pete Jilka > Kansas city, MO > > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/rjmartz.lists%40att.net _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
