Soloists of the English Symphony Orchestra / Kenneth Woods

Mahler arr. Simon Symphony no.9 in D major (1908-09, arr. 2007)

ESO Records ESO2602 [76’52”]
Producer Phil Rowlands Engineer Tim Burton

Recorded 23-25 March 2021 at Wyastone Concert Hall, Wyastone Leys, Monmouth

Reviewed by Richard Whitehouse

What’s the story?

The English Symphony Orchestra continues releases for its ESO Records label with Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, arranged by Klaus Simon and thereby continuing a lineage pioneered by the Society for Private Musical Performances established by Schoenberg after the First World War.

What’s the music like?

Schoenberg tackled Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde and Erwin Stein his Fourth Symphony, but neither is as ambitious as that of the Ninth arranged here for single strings and woodwind (these latter with doublings), two horns, trumpet, one percussionist, piano and harmonium.

Whatever the logistical disparity between original and arrangement, the music’s textural and motivic content remain intact. This is evident from the opening Andante comodo, its formal trajectory of interlocking arcs made explicit so its long-term expressive intensification feels no less tangible. To this end, piano or harmonium contribute much more than merely filling-out the texture; articulating and reinforcing its harmonic profile through to a coda clinching the overall tonal journey with a serenity more poignant for its remaining, as yet, unfulfilled.

The ensuing Ländler emerges no less lucidly overall, with Kenneth Woods (rightly) resisting any temptation to point up emotional contrast across a movement whose deceptive blitheness of spirit is only gradually undermined. Equally notable is the way that Simon has emphasized contrasts in timbre and texture, with the music ultimately fragmenting into a bemused parody of how it began. More questionable is the Rondo-Burleske where Woods’s underlying tempo in its outer sections, while enabling the music’s contrapuntal intricacy to emerge unimpeded, is a little too dogged to convey the assaultive quality Mahler surely intended. This is less of an issue in the central trio whose aching regret is potently captured; the stealthy regaining of tension no less evident before the final section propels this movement to its anguished close.

No such issues affect the final Adagio – its equivocation only relative now that the complete Tenth Symphony has been accepted into the Mahler canon, yet remaining a test of all-round cohesion such as this account renders with unwavering conviction. Having finely gauged the balance between its starkly contrasted episodes, Woods assuredly controls the winding down of tension towards a coda of inward rapture despite its sparseness of gesture, while affording that speculative closing interplay of solo strings the necessary temporal and emotional space.

Does it all work?

Yes it does, not least through persuading the listener that such a reduction is worthwhile not merely out of contingency alone. It should hardly need to be added the playing from this 19-strong ensemble, drawn from the ranks of the English Symphony Orchestra, is consistently attuned to the essence of this music, while also making the strongest case possible for what is a methodical while empathetic arrangement. No-one having heard it is likely to feel short-changed as to the relevance of Mahler Nine on its own terms or to the symphonic literature.

Is it recommended?

Yes it is, an impressively conceived and executed reading which demonstrates the efficacy of this arrangement to moving effect. Note too that Woods’ performance of the Ninth Symphony at this year’s Colorado MahlerFest will be available from its own in-house label in due course.

Listen / Buy

You can listen to excerpts and explore purchase options at the Presto Music website. Click on the names to read more about the English Symphony Orchestra, conductor Kenneth Woods and arranger / composer Klaus Simon

Published post no.2,891 – Monday 18 May 2026