Brookline Symphony Orchestra: Bohemian Finale

Program:

• Zdenek Fibich – A Night at Karlštejn Castle
• Gustav Mahler – Symphony No.1

A Night at Karlstein is an Overture to the play by Czech lyrical poet Jaroslav Vrchlicky. The play follows the story of Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles (Karel) IV, who built Karlstejn castle to house the crown jewels. But it is also a place where no women are permitted, and no politics are to be discussed. The Queen Eliška Pomořanská is distraught about this sanction, and decides to enter the castle disguised as a page to spy on her husband. The same idea came to Alena, a young girl in love with one of the members of the garrison, causing a night of confusion to unfold.

Symphony No. 1 in D major was composed between 1887 and 1888, though it incorporates music Mahler had composed for previous works. Although in his letters Mahler almost always referred to the work as a symphony, the first two performances described it as a symphonic poem or tone poem. The work was premiered at the Vigadó Concert Hall, Budapest, in 1889, but was not well received, leading to major revisions for the second performance and first publication. Some modern performances and recordings title the work Titan after the novel by German author Jean Paul, but Mahler himself only used this label for two early performances, and never after the work had reached its definitive four-movement form in 1896. Mahler conducted more performances of this symphony than of any other of his later works.

Learn more about the composers and pieces at https://www.brooklinesymphony.org/june-2019