© Pauline Stive
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Melissa Schiel
The Program
Catherine Varvaro, creator
Pauline Stives, illustrations
Alma Mahler - Die stille Stadt (arr. Kelly-Marie Murphy)
Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 5 (reduction by Yoon Jae Lee)
Alma Mahler - Bei dir ist es Traut (arr. Kelly-Marie Murphy)
Concert Snapshots
Light the Night is a concert piece created by a group of Canadian women artists.
Catherine Varvaro, who created this work, is also an orchestral timpanist and percussionist.
Pauline Stive worked with Catherine to illustrate each musical phrase and create a story that matches the emotional flow of the music.
Kelly-Marie Murphy arranged the lieder (songs) by Alma to match the instruments in Symphony No.5, bringing all the parts together into one piece.
Want to learn more? Click the button below to explore articles about the composers and the pieces, and read the program notes.
Explore the Music
WINE SPONSOR
Wine from our wine sponsor will be available before the concert and during intermission for $5/glass (all proceeds benefit the Walla Walla Symphony).
About the Guest Artist
Melissa Schiel, mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Melissa Schiel has established herself as a concert soloist, stage performer, and recitalist. Past chamber and orchestral highlights include Wagner’s Wesendonk Lieder, Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’éte, Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, De Falla’s El Amor Brujo, Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Mahler’s Symphony No.2, and Verdi’s Requiem. Since 2011, Schiel has enjoyed performing with many ensembles in the Pacific Northwest including Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Rainer Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Salem Chamber Orchestra, Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestra Seattle.
In Canada and the USA, she sang operatic roles such as Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Olga (Eugene Onegin), The Fox (The Cunning Little Vixen), Maddelena (Rigoletto), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti), The Old Lady (Candide), and Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring). She premiered the role of Estelle Oglethorpe in Later the Same Evening: an opera inspired by the work of American artist Edward Hopper by American composer John Musto. In addition to performing, Schiel enjoys working with future stage performers, musical artists, and music educators in her role as Associate Professor in the music department at Central Washington University.
Learn more about Melissa
Program Notes
ALMA MAHLER
Born August 31, 1879, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Died December 11, 1964, in New York City, New York
GUSTAV MAHLER
Born July 7, 1860, in Kaliště, Bohemia, Austrian Empire
Died May 18, 1911, in Vienna, Austria
Alma & Gustav: a symphonic graphic novel by Catherine Varvaro
Last WWS Performance: First performance at tonight’s concert
Approximate length: 75 minutes with no intermission
This work is scored for one piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, one English horn, two clarinets, two bassoons, one contrabassoon, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, two percussionists, harp, strings, and mezzo-soprano.
Prologue: A gleam appeared in the valley
Alma Mahler…………………………Die stille Stadt (arr. Kelly-Marie Murphy)
Melissa Schiel, mezzo-soprano
Chapter 1: The wedding, March 1902
Gustav Mahler…………………...Symphony No. 5, mvt. I
“In the light of the setting sun, her hair seemed like a halo of red flame,
and she, herself, like some beautiful beast of prey.”
Chapter 2: Birth, November 1902
Gustav Mahler…………………...Symphony No. 5, mvt. II
“I no longer played the piano, I no longer sang, I no longer moved…
I had completely renounced my own existence.”
Chapter 3: Domestic bliss, June 1907
Gustav Mahler…………………...Symphony No. 5, mvt. III
“I have suddenly realized that I am leading only a semblance of a life.”
Chapter 4: Grief
Gustav Mahler…………………...Symphony No. 5, mvt. IV
“I have lost my way. I can no longer find the bridge to the other side.
Someone has taken me roughly by the arm and led me far away–away from myself.
And I long to return to where I used to be.”
Chapter 5: La Grande Veuve 1908-1964
Gustav Mahler…………………...Symphony No. 5, mvt. V
“I dragged my hundred songs with me wherever I went
like a coffin into which I dared not even look.”
Epilogue: No one knows us thus
Alma Mahler…………………………Bei dir ist es traut (arr. Kelly-Marie Murphy)
Melissa Schiel, mezzo-soprano
“I have a sea of tears in me and where words fail, a river runs through.”
Introduction
This concert tells the story of Alma Schindler-Mahler, a woman of great talent and ambition whose life shows the struggles of women artists in history. Created by Catherine Varvaro, this performance is presented as a symphonic graphic novel, combining Alma’s music, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, and over 800 detailed illustrations to share her struggles with family life, being a mother, and being creative. Through this multidisciplinary experience, the audience is invited to reflect on themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.
Alma’s Story
Alma Schindler was a talented composer and artist in her own right, but her marriage to Gustav Mahler brought unexpected challenges. Gustav, a renowned composer and conductor, demanded that Alma abandon her own music to support his career. Despite her initial reluctance, Alma complied, putting her compositions into a cherished briefcase that once belonged to her father. Her story connects with many women artists whose potential was overshadowed by societal expectations and personal sacrifices.
The narrative changes significantly with the birth of Alma’s daughter, Maria Anna, followed by the child’s untimely death at age five. These events deeply affected Alma, as illustrated in the performance through music and imagery. Struggling to reconcile her life as a wife, mother, and artist, Alma navigates a confusing alternate reality, torn between her dreams and her obligations. Her journey is a testament to strength and lasting creativity.
The Music
Central to this performance is Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, a work that reflects the deep emotions of the Mahler household. The symphony is presented in its entirety, using a reduced orchestration by Yoon Jae Lee, serving as the musical canvas for Alma’s story. The fourth movement, the Adagietto, often interpreted as a love letter from Gustav to Alma, offers a moment of tenderness amidst the turmoil, while the symphony’s triumphant finale symbolizes the possibility of hope and renewal.
Interwoven with Mahler’s symphony are two songs composed by Alma herself: Die stille Stadt and Bei dir ist es traut, arranged for orchestra by Kelly-Marie Murphy. These pieces bookend the performance, providing a glimpse into Alma’s musical voice and underscoring her contributions to the arts.
Visual Storytelling
Pauline Stive’s illustrations bring Alma’s journey to life, transporting the audience into her world. From her idyllic youth to her tumultuous marriage and beyond, the visuals complement the music, creating an experience that shows Alma’s challenges and successes.
Conclusion
This symphonic graphic novel is more than a performance; it is a celebration of Alma Schindler-Mahler’s legacy and a reflection on the challenges faced by women in the arts. Through the combination of music, imagery, and storytelling, the audience is invited to connect with Alma’s story on a deeply personal level, finding resonance in her quest for self-expression and fulfillment.
-Portions of these notes are from the Kamloops Symphony’s “Light the Night” program, used with permission and gratitude.