An bigger orchestra, now able to play on its own

Gustav Mahler's symphonies are among the most challenging orchestral music traditionally written for large orchestras, but until this weekend, Tufts has been unable to perform many of them -- the orchestra was simply not big enough.

But at its Winter Concert in Faneuil Hall this Saturday evening, the TSO will perform Mahler's challenging Symphony No. 1, entitled "Titan," unaccompanied. The orchestra will be directed by conductor Malka Yaacobi.

Finally, the orchestra has enough members to perform the piece: in the last two years, the size of the orchestra has increased by nearly two thirds, from 45 to 70 active members. When it performed Mahler Symphony No. 2, Tufts had to join with Brandeis and Wellesley for the orchestra to have enough members.

"This is an important accomplishment for the TSO because playing a piece like Mahler Symphony No. 1 is in itself a testament to our musical prowess," said TSO publicity officer and bassist Aaron Weinstein.

Cellist Anthony Rios, a junior, attributed the improved recruitment of student musicians to the reputation the orchestra has built on its international tours.

TSO started touring four years ago, and has visited Portugal, Jamaica, Greece, France and Germany. This winter break, the TSO will perform in Rio de Janeiro.

"It is not a coincidence that after the start of our tours we now have an orchestra that can play Mahler Symphony No. 1," Rios aid.

But TSO members seek to improve their popularity on campus as well.

"I hope that we can find a way to get the school community to know about us and be enthusiastic about classical music the way that they are towards other musical groups like a cappella," Weinstein said.

But members suggest that the orchestra could improve further if the University improved the acoustics in Cohen Auditorium, its primary practice space. The room was not engineered for an orchestra and student musicians say that it is difficult to distinguish melodies in the room, which makes for frustrating rehearsals.

"Acoustic improvements in Cohen are not too expensive and they would make a huge improvement," Rios said.

Although the University has plans to build a new music building, the building's plans do not include a stage large enough to accommodate the orchestra.

This will be the second consecutive year that the TSO has played at Faneuil Hall and Rios said that the mood-shifting symphony will "engage the audience throughout the piece."