Around Mahler's First Symphony

The London Arts Orchestra, the resident orchestra at Christ Church, Spitalfields, is putting a new slant on Mahler's First Symphony. When they perform the work under conductor Edward Farmer at Christ Church on Thursday 6 February they will be preceding it with a performance of Mahler's song cycle, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (which provides on of the main themes in Mahler's symphony) sung by Luke D. Williams along with a new play which will be written and performed by Zubin Varla.

Varla's play uses Mahler's letters, music and other things which inspired the composer to help provide background and context for the symphony.

The London Arts Orchestra was founded by Edward Farmer in 2009, and comprises student and new graduate musicians. The orchestra aims to make orchestral music more accessible to a wider audience. Farmer studied at the Royal College of Music before studying conducting with Leonid Grin in Philadelphia. His recent engagements have included assisting Ivan Fischer with the Budapest Festival Orchestra.

Further information from the London Arts Orchestra website.