2025-2026 November Symphonic Performance

Pianist Marc-André Hamelin headlines this program, which opens with Gershwin’s jazzy Rhapsody in Blue. After intermission, an expanded Vancouver Symphony Orchestra turns to Mahler’s massive Symphony No. 1.

The 2025/26 Symphonic Series season is presented by United Grain Corporation.

What You'll Hear

The Rhapsody opens with a famous clarinet glissando, the trademark lick of Ross Gorman, Whiteman’s lead clarinetist, which Gershwin adopted as the perfect lead-in to the first theme. The piece develops freely, with one theme flowing naturally into the next, and with increasing intensity, until the piano takes a long solo and slows the tempo. The central section is based upon a romantic melody that sounds like a nod to Tchaikovsky with a bit of jazz punctuation. There is a recapitulation, and the piece ends aggressively, with the solo piano playing its loudest. 

The opening movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 1, marked Langsam (slow), begins in a hazy, undefined mood, with insistent “cuckoo” calls in the woodwinds—this same interval, a descending fourth, will eventually begin the movement’s main theme. Distant brass fanfares and more bird calls from the clarinet lead smoothly into the main theme of this movement. Mahler marked the scherzo movement Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht so schnell (with strong motion, but not too fast). With its robust character, it closely resembles the Laendler, a rustic triple-meter Austrian dance. Mahler was closely tied to the Austrian music he had heard as a youth, and much of this movement emulates the sound of dances played by an Austrian military band. In the published version of the Symphony No.1, Mahler rejected the notion of any programmatic element in the work. However, he did acknowledge that the third movement was inspired in part by a well-known illustration from a children’s book, a picture titled The Hunter’s Funeral Procession. Then, Bruno Walter best summarizes the effect of the final movement, "Here, he unleashes the tempest, a wild eruption, a life-and-death struggle leading to a triumphant conclusion.”

program notes ©2025 by J. Michael Allsen

About Marc-André Hamelin

Pianist Marc-André Hamelin, a “performer of near-superhuman technical prowess” (The New York Times), is known worldwide for his unrivaled blend of consummate musicianship. He continues to amass praise for his brilliant technique in the great works of the repertoire, and for his intrepid exploration of the rarities of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. He regularly performs around the globe with the leading orchestras and conductors of our time, and gives recitals at major concert venues and festivals worldwide. His 2025–2026 season spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, featuring a full schedule of orchestral, recital, and chamber music performances. An exclusive artist with Hyperion Records, Hamelin has released over 70 albums. Hamelin is the recipient of seven Juno Awards, eleven Grammy nominations, the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize from Northwestern University, and the Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award.

Program

Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue*

Intermission

Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D Major

*Marc-André Hamelin, piano

PRE-CONCERT TALK:

An hour before each performance, 6 PM on Saturday and 2 PM on Sunday, all ticket holders will enjoy an educational pre-concert talk from VSO's Greg Scholl and VSO Music Director and Conductor Salvador Brotons. Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn all about the history of the music that will follow!

All ticket holders will receive a secure email link in order to access the live stream performances.

Our tech support team will be available to assist you if you encounter any issues logging in during the performances.