Glens Falls Symphony to Present Gustav Mahler’s Monumental Symphony No. 5

The Glens Falls Symphony has announced the final concert of its 2024-25 season, scheduled for Sunday, May 4 at 4 p.m. at Glens Falls High School. The performance will feature Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, a landmark work of orchestral music known for its emotional complexity and cinematic sweep.

Located in Warren County, just north of Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls continues to expand its cultural footprint within New York’s Capital Region, and this season finale brings a bold conclusion to a year of musical storytelling.

Under the direction of longtime Music Director Charles Peltz, the Glens Falls Symphony will take the stage without intermission for a full presentation of Mahler’s five-movement masterwork. Composed at the turn of the 20th century, Symphony No. 5 is one of Mahler’s most frequently performed and recorded pieces, in part due to the famous Adagietto movement, often associated with the 1971 film Death in Venice and other cinematic works. Mahler, who served as director of the New York Philharmonic from 1908 to 1911, has long been considered a bridge between Romanticism and modernism, and his music continues to resonate deeply with New York audiences.

This concert is dedicated to longtime Glens Falls Symphony musicians Michael Emery and Stephani Emery, honoring their decades of artistic service. A free pre-concert talk by Maestro Peltz will take place at 3 p.m., offering insight into the music and its lasting significance. In the lead-up to the event, a community screening of The Young People’s Concert: Who is Gustav? featuring Leonard Bernstein will be held at the Queensbury Senior Center on Wednesday, April 23 at 2:30 p.m. as part of the Symphony’s ongoing Sound+Film series.

The Glens Falls Symphony continues to distinguish itself as a cornerstone of regional arts, bringing high-caliber classical programming to the foothills of the Adirondacks. With professional musicians drawn from across the Northeast and a commitment to education and outreach, the orchestra plays a vital role in the local arts landscape. This season finale not only closes the concert year but also reinforces the city’s growing identity as a hub for live symphonic music.

Tickets range from $29 to $43 for adults and $12 for students, and can be purchased by visiting the Symphony’s website or calling (518) 793-1348.