BSO Virtually Performs Powerful Ending of Mahler's Third Symphony

Watch as the BSO musicians virtually perform the final moments of Mahler’s Third Symphony, a piece that features significant orchestral forces. The Orchestra was able to rehearse the great masterwork, but unable to perform it in scheduled concerts March 12-14 as the performances were cancelled due to COVID-19.
The musicians of the Baltimore Symphony were disappointed that they were unable to perform the work and decided to create a virtual performance. Principal Tuba Aubrey Foard said, “We thought Mahler’s glorious and life-affirming coda from this symphony would help everyone feel a little better, knowing that the BSO is with them even when we’re all separated by physical distance.”
Each musician recorded their individual part of the final moments of the symphony at home. The video was produced and edited by BSO Violist Colin Sorgi, who created a click track for each musician to play along to while recording their part. The click track allowed the piece to move with tempo changes as it would in a live performance. Each musician employed two devices; one to play the click track and another device to record both video and audio.
Visit bsomusic.org/offstage for more great content.

[@bastamtajik7]

I burst into tears spontaneously and it was probably the 200th time I was listening to this music. Love whoever plays Mahler, no matter when and where...

[@bastamtajik7]

@Sparticus Booker I'm a man and I can't go on period. And it's disgusting to make fun of women's period in 21th century dear. Mahler is toi much for you. You better listen to Bieber and Shakira to get emotional.

[@loudlong]

The woodwind players raising their instruments got me.

[@alexikezawa4901]

Crazy how a virtual edited performance of this still made me cry

[@jeremiahsalyer7784]

Sparticus Booker way to be a doushe. Can’t go troll some nicki Minaj video?

[@mongoloid8878]

What is sad is that when the pandemic is over these big orchestras will not getaudiences back

[@mongoloid8878]

There will also be no funding, they will go bankrupt

[@Troubleshooter125]

@@mongoloid8878 Ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh, you wanna make BOOK on that, bubby? I've been a subscriber to The Cleveland Orchestra for the past 35 years, and I'll give up my six-concert block when hell freezes over and 1,000 years past! I think you'll find the rest of TCO's base feel much the same.

[@hetmanjz]

@Sparticus Booker So many tools, so few repairs. Must you be, smarty cuss?

[@yanzhaoyang2320]

There are symphonies, and then there are Mahler symphonies.

[@d.mavridopoulos66]

@Sparticus Booker This is a good performance.The fact that - apart from No.1 & 10 - his symphonies are long-winded, and feature self-pity to a perhaps excessive degree, tends to be put into sharp relief by bad performances. But wherever song is involved I think one can trust Mahler implicitly.

[@tchaikoffkey]

Sparticus Booker did you really feel the need to reply to 3 separate comments? People are allowed to have a different opinion than you, and bullying them with sexist comments isn’t really going to change anyone’s viewpoint.

[@richardengland7839]

Thank you

[@allwinds3786]

What's my favorite Mahler symphony? The one that I just heard.

[@ricasa2005]

And there are Mahler symphonies, and theres the Mahler 3rd Symohony

[@seriouslyreally5413]

Love how the French Horn player is performing in her family's play room with the toys in the background and trampoline leaning against the wall. Makes for a cozy insight to real people, real lives. 🤫🙂😉❤

[@cesargoodman5753]

That last cymbals note... that note means everything in the world. Everything why i live, why i play, why is it. Everything

[@hillcresthiker]

"A symphony must be like the world"

[@icallend]

It is remarkable how these musicians create the same hair-raising excitement while sitting in their practice rooms with only a small audio feed to their ears as they play their parts. Bravo!

[@jeaninejones4141]

I miss all of you Amazing musicians. Bravo BSO 👏 👏 👏

[@dorothyrosenthal8731]

I am in tears, almost sobbing at the end of this incredible piece of music as played by the Magical BSO musicians, each from their own homes. The production & editing by Colin Sorgi is unbelievable. Thank you, Maestra Alsop, and all of you who shared your talents, helping us get through this human crisis together. God bless you all and keep us safe. Dotty Rosenthal-Nerenberg

[@peterchun1521]

Amazing... Even in this "virtual" performance, the immediacy, the power, and the beauty of Mahler's music comes through. Deeply moving to hear the music even like this... May be for many people, this even HELPS to hear at least this small portion of the amazing 30-minutes-long finale to the 80-minutes-long piece in a more intimate way that reaches them more directly.

[@sophiatalksmusic3588]

I just finished crying, and then all of a sudden this appears on my feed... looks like I'm gonna have to start crying again! Mahler lives!

[@karinsymonds2177]

This is a wonderful gift from the BSO. Margaret Symonds

[@fvs2811]

What a wonderful way to begin Palm Sunday and the week of Passover. Mahler obviously understood the triumphant power of the human spirit in times of great need. Bravissimo!

[@BarryBryant]

Mahler touches my soul. Maybe the most beautiful movement in all of his symphonies. Thanks so much for doing this.

[@RichDebonnaire]

Barry Bryant a bold statement! 🙂

[@janicepulliam9607]

Marvelously done. I especially like this because it focuses in on individual players as they are playing, and we see them better than we ever do in a concert hall. Also, I think this could be an educational tool for young people learning what the instruments are and what each one sounds like. Seeing an instrument actively being played is much more interesting than seeing a mere picture with a label, and hearing it at the same time will be more memorable for a child, too. I also enjoyed seeing all 48 musicians playing together at the end. Congratulations.

[@NigeHaines]

Brilliant!... but how do the neighbors feel about living next door to a percussionist who has a set of timpani and is not afraid to use them? Well done BSO.

[@HuangShang010]

at least a percussionist wont worry about neighbor cuz human cranium can also be a percussion instrument, haha

[@cesargoodman5753]

I'll ask hahaha

[@stephenraisin7381]

I wonder if Orchestras can keep the humanity of this even after the pandemic - seeing the musicians up close helps you feel the music so much more than only seeing a crowd from a distance.

[@Big_Red_Dork]

Hard to beat the physics of the concert hall though, the sounds of the hall resonating with the music and the blending of harmony and dissonance between the sound waves of each musician. I wonder if there's a way to seamlessly give us close-ups of the musicians choreographed with their high points in the pieces

[@vetlerradio]

@@Big_Red_Dork Maybe some 5-6 projection screens in the concert hall, each displaying a group of musicians... I don't know, I prefer just seeing the entire orchestra live.

[@jacksonrich6398]

Holy crap! I’m not an emotional guy but damn! These musicians did an incredible job!!! What a wonderful performance!!! (Those “👎” have to be accidental bcuz they must’ve had tears in their eyes.)

[@desertorganist]

Music has a way of getting around our defenses.

[@Troubleshooter125]

DAMN! From a long-time supporter of The Cleveland Orchestra, a HUGE tip of the chapeau to the musicians and support personnel of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. That. Was. BRILLIANT.

[@hillcresthiker]

Unfreakin believable- ive heard famous world renowned orchestras blow this ending but these guys nailed it with emotion- A few sour notes and late entrances notwithstanding, this was a gut wrenching listening experience and whoever did the editing should be congratulated as well. This was Mahler's most majestic but relative quiet endings- my second favorite after The Resurrection! Beautiful

[@GlobalPasssenger]

Never before have I been so moved by this beautiful music as I have been here watching these wonderful musicians play it with all their heart and soul!

[@eml0u]

Holy bleep that is one hell of a CD collection!!

[@JohnKutzman]

To hell with the four people who disliked this. Seriously.

[@jnbplaysgames]

@Malvin Risan That is a no no. We should simply frown upon the errs of their ways and then move on. XD

[@jdeal2762]

It's their loss really. Their thumbs down had no effect on my feelings of joy and communion and gratitude that Mahler lived and gave us his music.

[@alanfan2331]

@Sparticus Booker then why are you here?

[@rachelgarber1423]

Ajay Gupta There have been times when I have just refrained from 👍🏻 or 👎 because although I was glad the video was uploaded, the content was disturbing. So I elected not to comment one way or the other. If you don’t like it, why listen in the first place

[@stephaniecurry45]

ajg don’t click the video then lmao

[@mjackstewart]

I love these interpretations-and they are truly interpretations-because the audio engineer becomes the musical director and conductor! Until these types of videos came into being, I had never heard every part of an orchestrationally dense work such as this with such clarity! And I love that, even alone, the oboes are bells up-together!

[@onor47]

この曲のこの部分ではいつも涙が出るのに、こんな時期にこんな動画見たらそりゃあもう号泣しないではいられません。すばらしい企画、すばらしい演奏、すばらしい動画をありがとうございました。

[@__donez__]

I'm glad to see the oboes and clarinets do the Schalltrichter in die Höhe at 5:45

[@Violinna]

Brought me to tears

[@RaymondDoerr]

In all the years I have been playing In music ensembles, I would have thought that something like this would have been impossible to pull off. I was proven wrong. Amazing work!

[@davidboatman8516]

Loved it. Found the 1St trumpet part and played along . I hope you are all safe and that we can get ba K to making music - be amateur or professional. The world will be a better place once we get through this pandemic. Thank you BSO.

[@tjhooker824]

One of the best moments in the standard repertoire

[@MarcusB-qr1hk]

Wow...I’m gonna cry. This is just beautiful.😭😭. Thank you to the BSO for providing music to all of us during these times. This makes me think...there are brighter and better days ahead.

[@jeaninejones4141]

I still love this piece

[@clivepapayanis3121]

Incredible. Thank you all so much.

[@sharonestes423]

What a great performance by all these incredible musicians, especially my favorite trumpet player, Tom Bithell. Please give us more of these videos!

[@stevengreenspan4450]

Simply glorious! Your music is a gift to our community. With tears in my eyes, I thank you for this performance and all the others through the years. I cannot wait to see you in person once again. Please be safe.

[@12345677396]

Semplicemente eccezionali!!!! Mahler... semplicemente emozionante, commovente!!!!

[@robertarias2219]

Fantastic! Bravo! Brava! Brought happy goose bumps and tears to our eyes.

[@joshdavlin5019]

Spectacular and so very uplifting. Exactly what I needed today. Thank you Marin Alsop and the BSO players.

[@margekoblinsky8852]

What a delight and relief to hear such beautiful music, especially at this time! Thank you so much!

[@danielmaeda8503]

Thank you Alsop bless from Brazil. I had the pleasure to see in OSESP! Hard times that only music and other arts can save us! thanks for the performance all the musicians, brings a lot of emotions together!

[@Josep489]

The most beautiful rendition I have listened in the past month. Thanks

[@multiraptor]

Mahler third makes me cry, always

[@jochanaan58]

What are these tears? The ones overflowing my eyes? They must be joyous tears because great music still lives even when concert halls are shuttered. Because even though Marin Alsop and the orchestra aren't together, they are united in bringing great music to us all. Bravi, orchestra! And Brava, Maestra! (I still remember the flawless performance of Mahler 7 that you and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra gave in Boettcher Hall. I was behind the orchestra and loved watching you as if I myself were playing.)

[@davidgee5662]

There is something incredibly moving and personal about these virtual performances. It is ,is some respects, better than being in the hall. Thank you so much!

[@hlbpcb]

Thank you all for this glorious gift.

[@buzzbrayable]

Thank You for this!

[@martinnyqvist159]

I heard this symphony of Mahler in summer 2001 the first time, after I bought a recording. Some weeks later I spent my holiday in the Austrian Alps. When I saw these giganteous mountains and nature there, I felt this Adagio always in my ears. Always when I'm hearing this Adagio, I see the sunset behind the mountains and the rise of the Evenstar. Thank you BSO for this video. And I wish for all of you, that you can play this Symphony soon again in your concerthall.

[@sickmannduane633]

Thank You to all who contributed to this piece A great deal of talent was required for for all this and I AM one who appreciated the effort Blessings to all

[@vasgeza]

stunning, thanks

[@andrewalanwest]

I’m in tears too. Thank you!

[@jeanchristophe1848]

Thank you !

[@miguele.rosario-vega935]

Thank you!!!!

[@harvinsky]

So moved to tears. Thank you, the Baltimore Symphony members. We can win the battle against covid-19 !

[@Helenr67545p]

Thank you from Sydney Australia

[@kathypaxton7784]

Beautiful! Thank you all.

[@zaineewells142]

Beautiful! I still have chills! Thank you for sharing

[@NK-jj3df]

Thank you BSO! That was amazing!

[@shaelaghmartin4882]

Amazing and beautiful! Thanks for doing this for all of us.

[@CreatingAcrossContinents]

Thank you for sharing - moved to tears....

[@ericw751]

Amazing! Thank you all. We needed that.

[@quinnrehkemper1213]

I loved it! So glad you guys are still playing!

[@LoriSRocks]

Thank you BSO!! Bravo!

[@HI4Deb]

Thank you SOOO much for your music❣️❣️😊

[@enriquesanchez2001]

THANK YOU, BALTIMORE! REMAIN SAFE for all of us! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[@uranrising]

Wonderful concept, executed with heart. So many thanks.

[@stpd1957]

Fabulous, well done and thank you.

[@IceCream-ey2kg]

Absolutely love this so much! The sound quality is amazing! Thank you everyone for your hard work and stay safe 💕💕

[@catherinescott562]

Just wonderful; thank you! It’s actually quite powerful being able to look at so many individual usicians at the the same time

[@patricialynnkenny7772]

Bless you all and thank you. Bravo!

[@brodymclaughlin]

Awe this was so cool. I cry everytime I hear this piece, an amazing selection for such times.

[@MainePianoMan]

Beautiful and touching! Thank you so much for sharing your incredible talents and this wonderful music with us!

[@nmathioudakis]

Impressive and inspirational to all of us. Thank you!

[@bcing75]

This is. Just. Amazing! Bravo!

[@jeremykishminatrea1892]

Well DONE!!!! Such an uplifting and inspirational selection. Was a blessing to hear that. Thank you.

[@kennethduckworth8100]

What this video does is demonstrate, more than a concert performance could, how individual players, with different instruments and different musical lines, work together to create something surpassingly beautiful. It is an inspiring metaphor for how human beings generally could work together to make the world more beautiful than it is.

[@michaelcharlton8896]

I cried as well. A beautiful performance: thank you!

[@JosephMcParland]

Beautiful ~ thank you :-)

[@tn1394]

So touched........

[@akptarmigan]

Hello from Alaska! Thank you for this.

[@andreasblau4560]

What a fantastic idea. Really moving!

[@Fuchur159]

Wow ;) well done - thanks a lot. Very inspiring for all the other orchestras internationally.

[@patcurmi3477]

Very touching, thank you (Malta)

[@gabriel1chan]

Thank you BSO, I really appreciate the effort to even able to put this together.

[@joaomarcelobadu]

I'm in tears, wonderful piece, nicely performanced. Great work, thank you for sharing!

[@dawnhoffmann3685]

Wow! How wonderfully inspiring you all are! Bravo! Thank you so much!

[@emilybrunson8250]

Major tears. Beautifully played and accomplished.

[@allwinds3786]

Nicely done 👍 Mahler lives!

[@sarahcooper7724]

This performance brought me to tears! Wonderful music , wonderful playing! Thankyou.

[@nikorucupcake2499]

This is amazing! A truly amazing lesson to never let obstacles stop you from doing something 👍💖

[@soozb15]

oh wow thank you so much. come to London when all this is over!!

[@willsonpaul7]

So touched by this. Thank you 💗😭

[@tepocatl]

I'm so exited with these socially distant works. Thanks.

[@mariastock9848]

Beautiful

[@c3piano]

Without music life would be a mistake. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful and touching piece and thanks to all involved in this production.

[@davidelder1922]

Yes, tears and goose bumps. I hope to see more of this type of performance, even going forward after the concert halls open up!

[@ikawinner960]

Thank you for your good will

[@josephmclaughlin8129]

Timpanis- got to love them !

[@flowerandfriendsmusic5134]

Beautiful!!

[@CristianoFrankSax]

Congratulations from Brazil to all musicians.

[@thomaskember4628]

Marvellous, out of this terribly sad situation a new art form has arisen combining music and pictures.