Modesto Symphony tackles monumental Mahler work

Austrian composer Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, known as “Resurrection,” has been called many things.

Monumental. Apocalyptic. A heart-shattering work of genius.

For the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, the ambitious work will be its Classic Series swan song for the year. The 85th season Classics grand finale will bring together more than 100 musicians on stage as the orchestra will be joined by the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus and California State University, Stanislaus, Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers for its concerts Friday and Saturday, May 13-14, at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Also performing will be featured soloists soprano Antonina Chehovska and mezzo-soprano Cybele Gouverneur.

First performed in 1895, “Resurrection” has been hailed as one of the great works of the symphonic repertoire. This will be the Modesto Symphony’s first performance of the 85-minute piece.

Both New York-based guest vocalists said they were moved the first time they heard “Resurrection.” For both it will also be the first time performing the piece and singing with the Modesto Symphony. Bay Area native and Venezuelan American singer Gouverneur said she saw it performed at Lincoln Center at an outdoor concert in remembrance of Sept. 11 and was “incredibly moved” by its power.

“Whether or not you believe in resurrection, it’s certainly a transcendental experience. It has a depth to the vocal line. I think that connects to the earthly suffering Mahler was exploring,” she said. “So I’m extremely excited to be invited to sing with the symphony.”

Chehovska heard the piece for the first time while studying at the University of Michigan. The Ukrainian-born artist was tasked with writing a short paragraph on it for her class, and said instead stayed up and wrote “pages and pages and just weeping.”

“The symphonic tone and way Mahler describes life, you could see pictures in every single movement,” she said. “One of my favorite lines, which I get to sing, is ‘Believe, you were not born for nothing.’ It’s exactly my message both to myself and the world.”

While both singers are new to the Modesto Symphony, they have worked in the past with conductor and music director David Lockington. Both said his style of conducting has made tackling the challenging piece with life and death themes more approachable.

“The symphony is wonderful. I love how they play and he conducts. He is a conductor who connects with the singers, so he knows what they are needing in terms of tempo and breaths,” Gouverneur said.

“Resurrection” will be presented without intermission. Chehovska said she hopes audiences leave feeling inspired, both by the music and its message.

“Nobody could come away with not being moved or transformed by it. I hope audiences come with open heart, hear this lush sound of the music and its words. No matter what we endure in life, there is going to be a reward afterward. So when you are suffering, it’s not for nothing. There is always a point to it,” she said. “I think that’s what music is supposed to do – make us better human beings.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Modesto Symphony tackles monumental Mahler work."