Anyone going to tonight's Mahler 5th (TSO, Benjamin Zander) is in for a total treat. Zander is not only a Mahler scholar, he's a Mahler evangelist, and that showed in Thursday's performance.
Zander took the time to expound on the Mahler before the concert in a profound and meaningful way. He is an elegant man to listen to, and an inspiring man, a wonderful human being, I would say. He also told the packed Toronto audience in no uncertain terms that we have a "fabulous" orchestra here.
The Mozart in the program I could have done totally without; what can I say, I am fed up to the teeth with Mozart, period.
Critic lite, Jon Terauds, was absolutely dismissive of this concert. He's out of his league anyway -- consistently. Ken Winters was kinder, at least having the courtesy to recognize that Zander is an international Mahler expert, but Winters didn't get the interpretation; he has previously confessed that he has not yet had his "Mahler epiphany". Disregard the critics. If you love Mahler, try to be there tonight.