Mahler's Beethoven: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Phillip Byrd
Camellia Johnson
Frank Poretta Iii
Patti Smith
Neeme Jarvi
David Pittman
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, led by music director Neeme Jarvi, presents its first public performance since 1915, of Gustav Mahler's orchestration of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Gustav Mahler, the Viennese composer who served as music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1909 until 1911, re-orchestrated five works of other composers. His changes to Beethoven's "Choral" symphony altered dynamics, doubled the woodwind complement and added a traditional tuba to the finale. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's second music director, Ossip Gabrilowitsch (1918-1936), was a close friend and supporter of Mahler. Following Mahler's death, Gabrilowitsch borrowed the score of the re-orchestrated Beethoven Ninth. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is joined by Ann Arbor's University Musical Society Choral Union, soprano Camellia Johnson, mezzo-soprano Eleni Matos, tenor Frank Poretta III and bass-baritone David Pittman.
