David Dalle
Thursday October 3rd, 2019 with David Dalle
The 10th of 12 exceptional concert recordings for 2019: Uri Caine Ensemble at the Mahler Festival in Toblach, Italy.

For 2019, I have chosen 12 exceptional concert recordings to program with one each month. I have set a couple of simple rules: the recordings will be played in their entirety and represent a single concert. These 12 recordings feature some of my favourite artists, and in many of the cases, also represent the very best from these artists. Between 1908-1910 Gustav Mahler would vacation during the summer Just outside the town of Toblach In South Tyrol in North Eastern Italy. It is a beautiful region surrounded by the craggy peaks of the Dolomites. These summer holidays were truly working holidays for Mahler, he spent the summer months composing all day in a tiny hut with strict instructions not to be disturbed. He composed "Das Lied von der Erde" and 9th symphony and work on his 10th symphony. This small hut as well as the large house nearby which he rented with his family are well preserved and have been the site of a annual Mahler festival since 1980. In 1997, pianist Uri Caine and his ensemble released an album "Urlicht/Primal Light" which reworked Mahler's music in many imaginative ways. In July, 1998, Uri Caine was invited to perform at the Toblach Mahler Festival. With a smaller ensemble than the one used in the earlier album, he performed a much greater, more expansive program with much more room for improvisation. The music is rooted in its sources, Mahler's music, particularly movements from the 1st, 2nd, 5th symphonies, "Das Lied von der Erde", and several of his orchestral songs. However, Uri Caine and his ensemble take it on incredible flights of fancy, cramming so much including the kitchen sink in it. It is conceivable Mahler would not have objected, as the great Mahler conductor Ivan Fischer has discussed, the key to Mahler is his eclecticism, the vast and varied sources of influence Mahler used in his music. Mahler had claimed that his symphonies must embrace everything and contain the whole world. Of particular note in Uri Caine's imaginings is the Klezmer and Jewish cantorial singing he imputes in Mahler's music. The complete concert was recorded and released by Winter & Winter in 1999. This concert has remained legendary for the Toblach Mahler Festival, and I find it to be one of the most spectacular, rich and imaginative concert recordings I have ever heard--an absolute favourite: an incredible, unique musical event. Uri Caine on piano is joined by Ralph Alessi, trumpet, Aaron Bensoussan, vocals and oud, David Binney, alto sax, Jim Black, drums, Mark Feldman, violin, Michael Formanek, double bass, DJ Olive, turntables, live electronics.