BBCSSO/Runnicles review – resplendent recounting of Mahler’s fratricidal fairytale

At Edinburgh's Usher Hall, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBCSSO), under the experienced direction of former chief conductor Donald Runnicles, delivered a powerful rendition of Gustav Mahler's "Das Klagende Lied." This ambitious cantata, composed by Mahler during his late teenage years, is a testament to his precocious talent and his fascination with blending disparate musical forms and emotional landscapes. The work masterfully fuses elements drawn from opera, symphony, oratorio, lieder (art song), part-song, and even sacred church music, creating a unique and complex sonic tapestry. The narrative of "Das Klagende Lied" is as dramatic as its musical construction, culminating in a chilling revelation: the bridegroom has murdered his own younger brother to secure his bride. This act of fratricide is starkly juxtaposed with the continuation of a cheerful offstage wind band, underscoring the work's profound exploration of the collision between high tragedy and seemingly light amusement.

This psychological dichotomy was notably observed by the renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud in 1910 during his meeting with Mahler. Freud posited that Mahler's mind was "inextricably fixed" on this very conjunction of extreme emotions, potentially as a result of a formative childhood trauma. While Freud's primary focus was not music, his insightful psychological diagnosis finds striking resonance within the thematic and structural elements of "Das Klagende Lied." The BBCSSO's performance embraced the original tripartite structure of the cantata, including the first movement, "Waldmärchen" (Forest Tale). This movement was initially withdrawn by Mahler himself, and its manuscript remained lost to scholars until 1969, making its inclusion in this performance historically significant. By performing all three movements and incorporating Mahler's later revisions, Runnicles and the BBCSSO made a compelling case for the integrity and dramatic impact of the work's original, expansive vision. The performance served as a "resplendent recounting" of this early, intricate, and deeply compelling musical fairytale, showcasing Mahler's remarkable early compositional prowess and his enduring ability to evoke profound emotional responses.