Students, patrons and parents alike bid a bittersweet goodbye to the USC Symphony Orchestra as it performed its last show of the season on Tuesday night.
Still reeling from its elaborate performance of Bernstein’s Mass in March, the orchestra took a small hiatus, but after Spring Break it got back to work and has been rehearsing for this performance ever since. For the final show of the academic year, the orchestra was intent on going out with a big bang.
Helmed by conductor Scott Weiss, the symphony orchestra performed “Titan,” one of composer Gustav Mahler’s most innovative works.
Mahler’s “Titan” was originally known as his “First Symphony” but was later renamed and revised. Although it was assumed that Mahler’s new title was inspired by the Greek heroes of the same name, its true meaning remains a mystery.
Before they began, Weiss graciously thanked the audience for its support and said that none of this would be possible without it.
For the first half of the show, Weiss and his orchestra were joined by clarinetist and USC instructor Joseph Eller. Together, both Eller and the orchestra powered through a complex piece of music known as Carl Nielsen’s “Clarinet Concerto.” During the second half of the show, the orchestra was left to take on Mahler’s “Titan” by itself.
Second-year nursing student Judith Mupenda heard about the show from her music teacher, who recommended that she go to at least one show before the end of the year. Although she never pictured herself coming to a show prior to this one, she has developed a taste for orchestral music.
"I'm like 'oh my goodness, why didn't I listen to it before?'” she said. "Now I'm addicted to Vivaldi ... I never thought I could enjoy so much of the music that I do now."
While the 2017-2018 season may have come to a close, the orchestra’s schedule for next semester has already been posted, with their first show slated to begin on Sep. 25, 2018.