The nickname The Tragic Symphony is a bit of a mystery, as Mahler wrote “Symphony No. 6” during a happy time in his life. True, the happiness abruptly ended a few years later with the deaths of his wife and daughter, a discovery of heart disease and the end of his directorship at the Vienna State Opera. Not to mention, World War I was around the corner. Where most of Mahler’s symphonies end in joyous big finishes, the Sixth has a minor-key, quieter conclusion that reads as tragic. It is a contemplative, orchestral reminder that beauty isn’t always “pretty” and that not everything has a happy ending. (LP)
Sat, 8pm, $30
Canada College Main Theater, Redwood City
