On Tuesday, May 27, the Richmond Symphony capped its 50th anniversary season with an evening in the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall. Critics for the Times-Dispatch and The Washington Post praised the performance, which featured works by Mahler, Rachmaninov, and Ravel. It’s hard to beat Mahler, and the Symphony’s interpretations of his symphonies testify to the players’ excellence. Speaking of Mahler, next season New York’s Carnegie Hall will feature all of his symphonies played in sequential order. Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez will lead the Staatskapelle Berlin and numerous acclaimed soloists (Thomas Quasthoff and Michelle DeYoung, for example). The programs will include several Mahler song cycles. The best performance I have seen was Boulez conducting the Mahler No. 3 with the Cleveland Orchestra (and DeYoung) in Severance Hall. The players appeared to be in a reverie.  Don’t worry, the 1965 Hollywood Bowl concert by the Beatles was pretty good, too.

Calling all music-lovers: The Richmond Symphony captivates the Kennedy Center. Is Mahler the best?