From TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will mark the retirement of three long-time musicians when it presents “Mahler: Symphony No. 1 ‘Titan’” Friday, May 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle.
Part of the Rita Barbour Kern Masterworks Series, the concert will feature Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan,” and Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo, performed by internationally acclaimed cellist Julian Schwarz.
The evening will also include a special celebration of three longtime TSO musicians: Concertmaster Kirk Toth, Principal Cellist Martha Reikow, and Third Horn Alan Taplin. Each retires from the orchestra after decades of dedicated service.
Under the baton of Music Director Alain Trudel, the program explores themes of identity and tradition. Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan,” carries listeners on an epic journey, from innocence to upheaval to resolve. The symphony contains passages that reflect Mahler’s cultural roots.
“Mahler’s First Symphony is a revelation every time we perform it. It bursts with energy, deep introspection, and an overwhelming sense of wonder,” Alain Trudel observes. “As my wonderful colleagues in the Toledo Symphony and I continue our cycle of Mahler symphonies, this work marks a vital chapter. Here is where Mahler’s symphonic voice begins to take shape. It’s thrilling to take this orchestral journey with our wonderful musicians and our audience, and it deepens our shared understanding of Mahler’s expansive world.”
Celebrated cellist, Julian Schwarz, joins the Toledo Symphony in Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo. Deeply rooted in Jewish liturgical and cultural expression, the work’s immensely expressive solo cello part gives voice to King Solomon’s reflections.
“I am so grateful to the Toledo Symphony for the invitation to make my fifth appearance with the orchestra,” remarks Julian Schwarz. “Bloch’s Schelomo features the cello at its best—as a storyteller through song and syllable. The expression and orchestral color in this evocative tone poem needs to be heard live to be believed. I am honored to join the stage with Alain Trudel, whom I have followed for many years as both virtuoso trombonist and conductor. It should be a very meaningful evening on many levels.”
Schwarz has established himself as one of the leading cellists of his generation. Winner of the 2016 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Schwarz has performed with major orchestras across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
In addition to the music, the evening will mark the upcoming retirement of three esteemed TSO musicians. Kirk Toth, the Toledo Symphony’s Concertmaster since 1985, and whose artistry and leadership have shaped the orchestra’s sound for nearly four decades remarks, “It has been a great privilege to work with my colleagues in the Toledo Symphony over these many years. Performing the great symphonic literature alongside such high-level musicians has been both inspiring and fulfilling. The artistic trajectory of the Toledo Symphony has always been one of rising to new heights, and I expect that tendency will continue.”
“Kirk is one of the very best leaders with whom I have had the pleasure to make music, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared the stage with him for seven seasons,” says Music Director Alain Trudel. “In him, I found a true musical brother that shares the same old school musical values and subtleties that are so rare to find. He is a legend and will forever be part of the Toledo Symphony family.”
Principal Cellist Martha Reikow has anchored the ensemble’s cello section since 1981. “Being a part of this Orchestra has enabled me to be up close and personal with great musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, the great cellist Rostropovich and Itzhak Perlman,” says Reikow. “I will miss playing the music I love on stage with my extremely talented friends and colleagues.”
Alan Taplin, Third Horn, whose rich tone and collaborative spirit have contributed to countless performances since joining the orchestra in 1979, estimates that he has played over 5,000 performances in his long career. “There is satisfaction after a good performance and disappointment after mediocre performances. The next day brings a whole new set of challenges,” says Taplin. “I hope that the TSO continues to grow and prosper.”
