On Saturday, April the 16th at the Atwood Concert Hall, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, along with the Anchorage Concert Chorus and Alaska Chamber Singers, performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.
On entering the concert hall, the presence of the Alaska Chamber Singers and Anchorage Concert Chorus was immediately noticeable. Taking up over half of the stage, their simple immensity created much anticipation and excitement. How were they going to sound?
As it turns out, the audience was going to have to wait most of the concert to find out.
After a personal story from the lead flutist, and the classic sounds of an orchestra tuning, Conductor Randall Craig Fleischer came out to lively applause. In his reliably energetic conducting style, he reminded the audience why there is a safety bar on the back of the conductor’s podium.
The first movement, “Allegro Maestoso” the orchestra showed off a strong drum section, while ensuring the audience stayed awake. The piece varied from soft and slow, to powerful and loud, all while the two choirs watched from the back half of the stage.
In between the first and second movement there was a considerably awkward break while the soloists, soprano Barbara Shirvis, and mezzo soprano Christin-Marie Hill, were escorted onstage.
However, it wasn’t until after the next two movements, Andante Moderato and In ruhig fliessender Bewegung that the audience got to hear the classic operatic voice of Christin-Marie Hill singing Urlicht. While the music itself was far from disappointing, one had to wonder who decided to seat the soloists so early on in the Concert.
The final movement, Im Tempo des Scherzo’s was by far the most captivating part of the Concert. Excited whispers could be heard throughout the audience when the Anchorage Concert Chorus and the Alaska Chamber Singers finally stood up for their part of the performance. They definitely did not disappoint. They audience was left with a powerful reminder of what the human voice is capable of.
Overall the Anchorage Concert Chorus performed a memorable performance of Mahler’s Symphony Number Two, but it was eclipsed by the short, yet powerful performance of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and Anchorage Concert Chorus.
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