Santtu conducts Mahler

Programme

“London’s Mahlerian orchestra par excellence” (Bachtrack) invites you into Gustav Mahler’s world – a world saturated with orchestral colour.

Since it was founded in 1945, the Philharmonia has given many outstanding performances of Mahler’s epic, all-embracing symphonies. Now Santtu-Matias Rouvali crowns his first season as the Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor with the great Resurrection Symphony, scored for a large orchestra, two solo singers and chorus.

In his own programme notes for the symphony’s premiere, Mahler describes the work’s rollercoaster of an emotional journey: the first movement represents a funeral. Then come movements depicting happy memories, followed by the fear that life may have no meaning at all. But reassurance comes from the soprano who sings “I come from God, and to God I shall return.” In the monumental finale soloists and chorus affirm “O believe, you were not born for nothing!”

Soprano Mari Eriksmoen replaces Erin Morley, who is no longer able to take part in this concert.