On 11 July Paavo Järvi, a representative of the Järvi conducting dynasty, one of the most acclaimed conductors of the present day and recipient of a Grammy award and the Echo Klassik prize in the category “Best Conductor of 2007”, will be conducting the Mariinsky Orchestra.
– What was your personal “path” to Mahler?
– I was first introduced to Mahler as a young boy in Estonia – I remember listening to his Fourth Symphony with my father. Also, the first symphony I ever conducted was Mahler’s Symphony No 5 for a concert in Denmark. It was really after this that I fell in love with his music.
– If you were to judge Mahler only by his music how would you judge Mahler as a man?
– If I only knew Mahler from his music, I would say that he has a huge heart and a deep connection with the soul and humanity. It’s clear from his music that he has really experienced life, particularly the darker, tragic side of life.
– If we think of Mahler’s funeral marches and the vivid line that flows through all his work, then arguably you could say the composer was a pessimist, regardless even of his constant musical searches for an “exit” from his tragic conflict with reality, his endeavour to embody in music a heroic ideal, and regardless of the life-affirming finale of the Seventh Symphony. Do you agree? If not, why?
– It’s almost impossible and too simplistic to label Mahler as an optimist or pessimist. He has so much depth and in reality there is no clear line between an optimist or pessimist. To me, pessimism describes someone who is negative and that has given up on life. Mahler was hopeful – he believed in love. The funeral marches, ländlers, drinking songs, fanfares etc. are used by Mahler to transport us to the state of mind he wants us to be in. His symphonies reflect all sides of life and beyond...
– Ivan Ivanovich Sollertinsky, a very famous personality in the cultural life of Leningrad before the war, once said that “After Mahler we will see no true symphonists in Europe.” Do you agree with that?
– Yes, certainly Mahler’s Ninth marks the end of the Germanic symphonic tradition. Following from this there are still the great symphonic works of Shostakovich, Prokofiev and other 20th century composers, who were representative of a new symphonic world and way. Shostakovich was, by the way, a huge fan of Mahler, but somehow during this time the symphony was re-born in a different formation.
– What do you consider to be your main achievement in your career as a conductor?
– It’s difficult for me to be able to view myself in this way – it is a question for other people to answer and name my main achievements.
Speaking with Svetlana Nikitina
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