Mahler’s 7th Symphony by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (“TPO”)

Music Auditorium College of Music. Mahidol Salaya Campus. Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. May 25, 2013.  Gustav Mahler's 7^th Symphony is not considered by musicologists to be one this titan of Austro-German music's best works, but I have a special affinity for it because it is the first of Mahler's symphonies that I immersed myself in by acquiring and studying the orchestral score. The symphony is moody and difficult to classify, but at one hour and 20 minutes in length, the listener at least has time to adjust. The TPO is always competent, but in this performance, it didn't rise above an ordinarily good reading. It may take a greater gravitas than these young musicians possess, to present Mahler in the Germanic suffering, mysticism and grandeur that permeates the romantic Mahler. Still, I'd be happy to hear the TPO play the Mahler 7^th again.