Ludlow Arts: Classical

Saturday 16 May 2026

7:30pm

St Laurence, Ludlow

Ludlow Orchestra
Leader: Claire Tocknell
Conductor: Jonathan Lyness

Schubert: Symphony No.3 in D major, D200
Mahler: Symphony in G major, Op.36

Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 3 and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 make for a concert pairing that highlights two very different but complementary musical worlds. Schubert’s Third Symphony, written when he was just eighteen, sparkles with youthful energy, elegance, and melodic charm. Classical in spirit yet unmistakably personal, it shows the young composer absorbing the influence of Haydn and Mozart while already hinting at the lyrical voice that would later define him.

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, by contrast, offers a more reflective and ironic vision. Often described as his most transparent and light-filled symphony, it blends childlike innocence with profound emotional depth. Its finale, featuring a soprano solo, presents a vision of heavenly life that is both serene and subtly unsettling. Together, these works invite listeners on a journey from Classical poise to late-Romantic introspection, revealing how symphonic music evolved across a single, remarkable century.

Tickets from Ludlow Assembly Rooms box office soon.