‘Mahler’s Third Symphony’, West Australian Symphony Orchestra ·
Perth Concert Hall, Friday 2 December 2022 ·

“A symphony must be like the world,” Mahler said to Sibelius, “it must embrace everything.” The West Australian Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of chief conductor Asher Fisch, responded faithfully to Mahler’s maxim in a transcendent, emotionally draining and life-affirming performance of the composer’s Third Symphony on Friday night. 

Underpinned by decades of experience conducting in the world’s great opera houses, Fisch’s deep command over the Austro-Germanic symphonic repertoire was evident, not only through an impeccably paced first movement, but also through the finale – perhaps Mahler’s greatest single movement – which had space, beautifully balanced textures and a pliable sense of line.

Now in his eighth year as Principal Conductor, Fisch has a rapport with the orchestra that clearly inspires all to give their best. Consequently, the detailed and personalised solos from the principal players were exemplar models of expressivity and conviction.  

Joshua Davis filled the hall with dark brooding intensity in the important trombone solos in the first movement and Jenna Smith’s post horn solo was poised and sweet, and brilliantly interrupted by Peter Miller’s raucous trumpet fanfare. Laurence Jackson’s will-o’-the-wisp violin interjections wove well with Kyeong Ham’s primeval-sounding oboe solos in the fourth movement and both supported well the finely spun line from the mezzo-soprano Ashlyn Tymms, who was in outstanding voice. 

The singers from the WASO chorus and from the Aquinas College Schola Cantorum warmed into their role, nevertheless their collective sound was still a little underpowered. The woodwinds impressed, both through their meticulous ensemble playing and their search for the widest range of colour and dynamics. So too the brass; their chorale, heralding the final strophe of the finale, was devastating in its limpid sweetness. 

In the last five minutes of the Third Symphony Mahler writes transcendental music of the greatest power and intensity. It is moments like these that conductors and players live for and, for us in the audience, the unfolding music is a numinous experience like no other.

In the age of the sound bite, commercialisation, and the (necessary) diversification of the repertoire, there is no denying the power of the large-scale symphonic masterworks. Juggling the old with the new cannot be an easy task, however the WA Symphony Orchestra, with its chameleon-like ability to accompany Harry Potter one week, to play for the opera another, and to execute a Mahler symphony with such conviction, is unquestionably striking the right balance.

WASO’s next concert is the ‘Lotterywest Christmas Spectacular’ on 10 December 2022.

Pictured top: WASO and Principal Conductor Asher Fisch confirm there is no denying the power of the a large-scale symphonic. Photo: Rebecca Mansell