Mahler Festival in Amsterdam. Just once in a lifetime / day

In honor of Gustav Maler (1860-1911) at an eleven -day event in Amsterdam – 105 years after the first Mahler Festival here – the symphony orchestras from around the world will gather. This will be the third Mahler Festival of this scale organized by the Royal Concert Hall of Amsterdam Concertgebouw. « This is a very special event in which Maher is honored in Amsterdam, a city that the composer truly loved and in which Maler was glorified during his lifetime and continues to do so today, » says Marina Mahere, a granddaughter’s granddaughter.

« The Mahler Festival brings together the world’s brightest classical music from Asia, Europe and the US – such an event is happening once in a lifetime! » emphasizes the concert hall Concertgebouw CEO Simon Reinink.

So much noise

Amsterdam has been associated with Gustav Mahler’s name for a long time and is considered the spiritual home of the great master. Vienna and New York are also called « Mahler City ». The composer’s music in Amsterdam sounds without interruption since the beginning of the 20th century. Mahler’s playback tradition has been established by the then Concertgebouw The orchestra’s chief conductor Willem Mengelberg (he led the orchestra from 1895 to 1945) and has been continued by his offspring in this position – Eduard van Beinums, Bernard Haitink, Ricardo Shia, Maris Janson, Daniel Gati and Klaus Mekele.

Gustav Mahler’s music in Amsterdam sounds without interruption since the beginning of the 20th century. Photo – Va van Lere

Initially, Mahler was quite restrained to Amsterdam. He has once asked composer Alfons Dipenbrock how he can live in a place « always raining and so much noise ». But Mahler appreciated the Amsterdam audience and Concertgebouw The orchestra that truly understood and felt his music. It was Maestro Willem Mengelberg, who helped to strengthen Mahler’s link with the city. In 1903, he invited Mahler to Amsterdam to give his third symphony to the author. Mahler, who was known for his perfectionism, was surprised by the orchestra’s preparedness: « I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears when the musicians played my third symphony. The orchestra is excellent and very well prepared. » The reaction of the audience further deepened his admiration. After a triumphal performance, Maler wrote Mengelberg: « I feel as if I had found his second musical home in Amsterdam. » Mahler’s bond with Amsterdam with each visit became more and more strong because Concertgebouw The orchestra provided the perfect environment for his revolutionary ideas.

The cycle conducted by Willem Mengelberg in Amsterdam and Mahler’s relations (after the death of the composer) was an important event (after the death of the composer), which featured all nine completed symphonies and song repertoire, now we know this event as the first Maler Festival. Seventy -five years later, the second Mahler Festival took place in 1995. At that time Concertgebouw The leader of the orchestra was in Ricardo Shaiji. The festival, which featured all Mahler’s symphonies in chronological order, was also attended by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and the National BBC Orchestra. It was planned to celebrate the centenary of the first festival in 2020, but it was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Six orchestras

The third Mahler Festival will be opened today, May 8 with a theatrical concert Dear Māler!in which the Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra will perform under the direction of conductor Lorenzo Voti. Who was Maler? What is Mahler? What does his music do with us, listeners? The program will look for answers to these questions. It is announced as a journey in Mahler’s creative work, and the composer’s letters – memory, reflection and critical notes – are chosen for the stops. Baritone Florian Besh will sing at the concert.

The Mahler Symphony Festival will be chronological in order and will be interpreted by the highest orchestra and conductors. The royal of Amsterdam Concertgebouw The orchestra will begin the symphonic cycle under conductor Klaus Mekele on May 9, performing Mahler’s first symphony. Later at the festival this collective will execute the eighth or Thousands of symphonies. The Budapest Festival Orchestra and Maestro Ivan Fisher will play the second and fifth symphony. The Japanese broadcaster NHK Symphony Orchestra, led by Maestro Fabio Luizi, is entrusted with the third and fourth symphony. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Jās van Cveden will offer the sixth and seventh symphony reading. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, under the guidance of Cyril Petrenko, will perform the ninth symphony. At the end of the festival on May 18, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra will play Adagio from the Tenth Symphony and the Communications of Communication and A song about the land.

Concert hall Concertgebouw The chamber music hall will feature all Mahler’s songs by pianist Juljus Drake and young singers. Subscriptions cost 1008-1950 euros for ten symphonic concerts, and they were all sold. Subscriptions cost € 154-235 for seven chamber music concerts and they have been sold. Before and after the concerts, there will be talks on Mahler’s music. All symphonic concerts will be broadcast free of charge on the big screen in Amsterdam in Wondel Park. High sound quality will be ensured. The Mahler Pavilion, set up at the Park Open Air Theater, will have a place for 1,500 spectators.

He does not judge anyone

The festival conductors answer the question of why Mahler is important. « Mahler’s symphonies are for everyone. In his music, he starts a true conversation with you. With Mahler you can be as you are. He does not judge anyone. It is extremely important, especially in the 2025, » says Concertgebouw The next chief conductor of the orchestra Klaus Mekele.

« Mahler symphonies are for everyone, » says Amsterdam’s royal Concertgebouw The next chief conductor of the orchestra Klaus Mekele. Photo – Marko Borggrēve

« Mahler’s second symphony expresses his childish, naivo, but the irresistible optimism about eternal life: stop complaining, boring pessimists! Come and let Mahler’s music change your life! » Ivan Fisher, the chief conductor of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, is invited.

Fabio Luizi, the chief conductor of the Tokyo NHK Symphony Orchestra, recalls: « The NHK Orchestra is the first in the world to record the electric record of the Mahler Symphony, which captured the fourth symphony in 1930. This achievement marks the long and deep bond with the composer. »

The main conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, Cyril Petrenko, is convinced: « The ninth symphony is a visionary job, especially since it affects the future. I look forward to being able to show my interpretation at the Mahler Festival. »

Along with twenty -three concerts, the festival has provided a rich cultural program throughout the city. At the Amsterdam Museum Rijkmuseum There will be an exhibition dedicated to Malram to see the original of the seventh manuscript of the Symphony (a gift from composer Alma Mahre to the Concert Hall Concertgebouw 1920 during the Mahler Festival) and previously not publicly spotted photos from Mahler’s friend Alfons Dipenbrock’s archive. Cinemas Eye Documentary films about the composer will be screened. In the film By conducting Maler/Conducting Mahler Interviews with conductors of the 1995 Mahler Festival Concerts Bernard Haitink, Ricardo Shaiji, Claudio Abado, Ricardo’s mouth and Simon Retla. The Amsterdam Theater will host a symphonic film concerts.

Composer’s lovers will be able to go to Mahler’s inspired walk along with Concertgebouw Orchestra percussionist Herman’s tool – he will tell about music and history and show the noteworthy places Mahler has visited in Amsterdam. Excursions will take place in any weather. Remember, Mahler has lamented that Amsterdam always rains!

Information: Mahlerfestival.nl