By Daniel Buckwalter

It’s springtime, the season where we unshackle ourselves from the winter doldrums and heavy coats to breathe in fresh air and fresh life.

Cherry blossom trees burst with their fleeting grandeur, lilies sprout from everywhere, rhododendrons come to life as do azaleas and majestic lupine flowers. Even grass seems greener, and after a lawn has been freshly cut, its aroma is clear and crisp.

Yes, I know, spring doesn’t officially begin until March 20. And I’m a realist. I know spring in western Oregon means all four seasons can, and likely will, hit us with force before lunch on a given day in the next couple of months. But it can be fun to let the imagination dance in sunlight for a moment at the thought of stuffing winter sweaters in the closet for several months.

It was deep in that imagination that I took in microphilharmonic’s stirring and lovely performance of Gustov Mahler’s 4th Symphony in a two-show run March 8 and 9 at The Shedd.

It is a fitting piece to absorb in the final days of winter because Mahler’s 4th Symphony is seen by fans and musicologists alike as a perfect entry into spring. Often performed and always liked, the four-movement piece brings to the fore an achingly beautiful and child-like innocence to the wonders that await after hibernating in the cold, barren months.

And microphilharmonic nailed the piece, to the delight and standing ovations of the weekend audiences.

There are lovely interplays throughout the piece, and the weekend performances heard this from oboeist Tom Nugent and French horn player Margarite Waddell as well as pianist Hung-Yun Chu and percussionist Tim Cogswell. 

Throw in the masterful work of clarinetest Michael Anderson, violinists Alice Blankenship and Julia Frantz as well as the soft and expressive voice of soprano Arwen Myers in the final movement, and the microphilharmonic’s performance of Mahler’s 4th Symphony had me ready to ditch the thick coats for several months.

Happy spring to one and all.