The final concerts by Robert Moody as music director of the Portland Symphony Orchestra took place on April 29th and also on May 1st. It was with a heavy heart that I attended the one on Sunday. Since my return to Maine in 2007, he has been demonstrating his musical abilities in nearly each concert I have attended. In his pre-concert talk he paid tribute to Paul Vermel who was among those who preceded him. He related that he spoke with the previous conductor by phone who told him that he could always ask him for advice but he would not be available to guest conduct the orchestra. He related this in response to a question from the audience who asked if he would guest conduct the orchestra. He replied that he would, for the 100th anniversary of the orchestra in six years! After these concerts he was going to repeat the Mahler 2nd with his other orchestra in Winston-Salem. He said that he is interested in conducting opera in the future but related no other plans for the future.

He has grown with the orchestra and regarded them as “family.” He has conducted all nine of the Beethoven symphonies with the orchestra but there are no plans to release them on CD’s. He has shown a happy affinity (and ability) conducting Mahler’s music. In fact I gave a glowing review of his reading of Mahler’s first symphony early in his tenure. Whatever criticism I made over the years had to do with the fact that I thought that some of his tempos were a tad on the fast side and some gestures that he made. I always had reason to admire his thorough knowledge of the music he conducted and the way he communicated his wishes to the orchestra.

Speaking of the orchestra, it has become a superior musical instrument during Moody’s tenure. Moody spoke about the Mahler 2nd and then, prior to the program, Carol Nishon, the manager of the orchestra related some of his accomplishments, particularly the instituting of the Discovery Concerts, outreach to the community, the hiring of an assistant conductor, and the fact that the orchestra is consistently in the black.

The president of the Portland City Council presented Moody with a proclamation from the mayor and the council citing various aspects of Moody’s achievements. Upon Moody’s appearance following the concert master’s entrance, the entire sellout audience collectively rose to their feet and applauded enthusiastically. This seemed to say that we recognize what you have done, at least to me.

With regard to the music, this was also a musical event. Come to think of it, any time a Mahler symphony is going to be performed, it IS a musical event. This is particularly true of his second symphony. A Haydn symphony normally takes any where between 10 and 20 minutes to perform. A Beethoven symphony takes anywhere from 25 to around 35 minutes to perform, with the exception of his ninth, which can take up to f45 minutes depending on who is conducting! The Mahler 2nd takes around 85 minutes! The orchestra is huge and like the Beethoven 9th includes vocal soloists and mixed chorus.

Usually four horns are more than sufficient for most composers. Mahler called for 10 in this work as well as for two harps, organ and multiple doublings in all the other instruments. When they all play together, they make for a hefty sound! However, Mahler frequently uses his instruments as a painter would in having only a few play at any one time. In any orchestral performance one needs to comment on the composer, the conductor and also the orchestra. All too briefly concerning the composition.

Essentially Mahler was trying to deal with questions of life and death in this piece. He asks such questions as what purpose life is and responds that “you are from God and will return to God.” “Rise again, yea you shall rise again.” The texts sung ever so well by mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Bishop and soprano Twyla Robinson as well as by the Choral Art Masterworks (Robert Russell, conductor) were presented on a screen above the chorus. The voices of both soloists were well suited to their respective roles. The chorus sang with resonance and their initial entry (very tricky) was superb. Moody conducted with authority and passion. The orchestra covered itself with glory, and each solo instrument performed like their lives depended on it. (With Mahler it does!) The concert was recorded and will be broadcast on Maine public radio on May 16. Bobby, we will miss you. What a way to go!

— Dr. Morton Gold is a composer/conductor, retired educator and an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.