A magnificent Mahler's 1st

We've been going regularly to concerts at Birmingham's Symphony Hall since February. Around once a month on average. Sad to say we've now established a little routine, always parking in the same car park, generally having pre-concert tapas in the same bar (but not last night because we were hungry so ate a middling pizza elsewhere), sitting at the front of the circle and having the same interval drinks. It's an easy and enjoyable evening out and we've never been disappointed by any performances. The CBSO under Sakari Oramo are a fine ensemble. Once or twice, though, it's turned out to be a night to remember and last night's concert was one of those.

Symphony Hall was, as usual, only about two thirds full to hear Ravel's Mother Goose and Mahler's 1st. Symphony. We didn't know the Ravel (well, apart from five minutes of familiar chinoiserie towards the end) but its 25 minutes were very pleasant and beautifully orchestrated, even if there were no "big tunes". No matter, it was good to hear something new.

After such a short first half, the interval rather took us by surprise.

Mahler's great symphony took up the second half. It's a favourite of both of us and Gill has also played it many years ago, so she sat there picturing the score. The playing was superb, especially the woodwinds and the brass. Of course Mahler demands a big orchestra, there were 101 of them, with particularly heavy brass and double bass sections. Even three off-stage trumpets in the first movement. Despite the numbers, the textures were crystal clear and the sound quite magnificent.

Though Gill thought that the first two movements were taken a little too fast in places, I thought that the tempi were just right throughout and particularly in the finale, which Oramo whipped up at the end into an electrifying blaze of triumphant sound which had me literally on the edge of my seat. We've never heard such applause since we've been going to Birmingham and, my word, wasn't it deserved. Had someone stood up to applaud, I'd have joined them. But they didn't, and so neither did I...

Listen to the closings pages of Mahler's 1st. Symphony

I can't wait for their Mahler's 2nd. next%2