Aldworth Philharmonic offer Reading a rare chance to hear Mahler’s Ninth

The Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) will return to the Great Hall at the University of Reading this autumn for a rare performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.

Often described as Mahler’s farewell to life, the Ninth Symphony is a work steeped in personal context and emotional intensity.

APO’s Music Director Andrew Taylor says: “Mahler’s four-year-old daughter had died just two years before he composed it, and he had recently been diagnosed with a heart condition.

“This is not a work of morbid introspection; it’s full of colour, contrast, and emotional range.

“From lilting folk tunes to heroic struggle, biting satire, it has an ending so tender it never fails to move me to tears.”

The scale of the work is such that even professional orchestras rarely tackle it.

APO’s Patrons and Outreach Manager and principal cellist Melanie Hopkin says that a Mahler symphony is something to look forward to.

“It demands vast orchestral forces and places intense physical and emotional demands on the players,” she said.

“It’s rare for an amateur orchestra to take on something so all-encompassing, and we can’t wait to begin rehearsals and share this extraordinary music with our audience.”

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As part of the performance, APO will continue its Concert Virgin scheme, which offers free tickets to anyone who has never attended a live orchestral concert before.

The initiative is designed to make classical music accessible to new audiences, welcoming first-time concertgoers without any barriers.

Those who want to take part can contact the orchestra in advance, informing them that they have never attended a classical music concert before. They can enjoy the show and afterwards complete a short survey about the experience.

And APO aims to create a relaxed environment so that people can

Standard tickets are priced at £15 for adults, £10 for under-18s, and £7 for members of APO Young, the orchestra’s free fan club for children aged five to 15. Tickets can be reserved via the APO website.

When is Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra performing Mahler’s Ninth Symphony and how do I get tickets?

The Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 at The Great Hall, University of Reading (London Road Campus) on Saturday 25 October 2025 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £15 for adults, £10 for under-18s, and £7 for APO Young members. APO’s Concert Virgin scheme also offers free tickets for anyone who has never attended a live orchestral performance.

Tickets are available online at apo.org.uk/next-event