Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand Debuts in Thailand After 113 Years

Thailand Cultural Center.  Bangkok.  July 24, 2013.  Mahler’s Eighth Symphony is the largest work in the modern repertory.  Its performance requires a huge orchestra (though not quite as large as in Arnold Schoenberg’s oratorio Gurre-Lieder), two choirs, a children’s chorus, eight vocal soloists and some offstage instruments.  The publicist for the first performance of the

symphony in Munich in 1910, nicknamed it “Symphony of a Thousand,” a name which has stuck, although Mahler never sanctioned and, in fact, disliked it.  The publicity for Thailand’s first ever performance of this masterpiece, likewise emphasized “Symphony of a Thousand,” and it may very well have been the expectation of hearing a performance by 1,000 players (there were closer to 350 at the Thai Cultural Center) that brought a large audience out on a Wednesday night during the rainy season.  As for me, I thought that if conductor and organizer, Somtow Sucharitkul, could have his amassed forces start and finish together, and not fall apart at some point in between, it would be an accomplishment worth bragging about.  This he did admirably, but it will take much more development before the score’s sublime beauty can be heard in Bangkok.  Yes, a very good start.