Xian Conducts Mahler 7

Mahler’s Seventh Symphony began with a journey on the water: “I got into the boat …. At the first stroke of the oars, the theme (rather, the rhythm and character) of the introduction came into my head.” This journey glides through the nocturnal world of a feverish imagination, with the composer’s genius always lighting the way. We pass through twilight realms of fairytales, of phantoms, of serenading guitar, before emerging to hear Mahler greeting the full light of a sunny day. It remains his most mysterious and rarely heard symphony. Drawn by its emotional complexity, Music Director Xian Zhang wanted her first Mahler symphony in Seattle to be his Seventh — our first performances of it in 20 years.