PSO Offers the Opportunity to Hear Mahler's Symphony No. 1 for $25

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì In order to showcase a tremendous piece of music ’Äì as well as their new Music Director Designate ’Äì the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents Mahler's spectacular Symphony No. 1 in glorious Merrill Auditorium on Monday, May 5^th for only $25 per person. For those who've never been to a PSO performance, and even for those who have, this Podium Prelude Concert offers an unparalleled opportunity to hear an hour-long concert designed to introduce incoming Music Director Robert Moody to Portland and the southern Maine community. All tickets are available for the same low price.

Deborah Galarneau, President of the PSO's Board of Trustees, said, "We have never been able to offer the community such a special event at such an economical price. And there is still the opportunity to get seats that would usually cost at least twice as much! We're thrilled to introduce the community to Maestro Moody at this special event."

Mahler's Symphony No. 1 is one of the most exciting and accessible works ever written for symphony orchestra. The first movement is full of birdsongs, the second movement is a folk dance, and the third movement is a spooky funeral march, with klezmer accents, based on the "Frere Jacques" melody. The stormy finale begins with an alarming bang and builds to a huge climax. Program notes and an audio invitation from Robert Moody are available at www.portlandsymphony.com.

In addition to the $25 tickets for the May 5 concert there are a limited number of $150 tickets, which include Grand Tier seating and an exclusive cocktail reception at the Cumberland Club with Robert Moody. Those tickets can be purchased by calling the PSO office at (207) 773-6128.

Robert Moody will direct Mahler's Symphony No. 1 again on Tuesday May 6 as part of the PSO's season finale concert. That program will also include Dan Locklair's PHOENIX for orchestra, a piece commissioned in 2006 by Robert Moody, and Haydn's Cello Concerto in D Major, with celebrated Canadian guest soloist Denise Djokic. Tickets are extremely limited to this event.

Tickets for the Podium Prelude and other PSO performances are available now through www.porttix.com, by phone at 207-842-0800, or at the PortTix box office, 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.