Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin has described Mahler’s Tenth Symphony as ‘a piece like no other in the history of music’. It is both brutal and uplifting, astonishingly cathartic, a heart-wrenching farewell to the world, and to his beloved wife Alma – six of whose rarely heard but exquisite songs open tonight’s concert. The Symphony was completed after Mahler’s death by musicologist Derryck Cooke, who virtually dedicated his life to the remarkable work, but every movement is of Mahler’s own making.
The Rotterdam Philharmonic has long been internationally known as one of the world’s foremost Mahler orchestras, and gave a blistering account of the composer’s Sixth Symphony with Nézet-Séguin at Festival 2014. They are joined by the hugely respected British mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly, admired for her rich, vivid opera roles as well as her searching concert performances, for seven sensuous Alma Mahler songs, in new orchestrations by British composers Colin and David Matthews.
Nézet-Séguin, the greatest generator of energy on the international podium.
Financial Times
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor
Sarah Connolly Mezzo soprano
Alma Mahler Lieder (orch. Colin and David Matthews)
Gustav Mahler Symphony No 10 (compl. Deryck Cooke)
More information about some of the artists
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
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Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Website
Sarah Connolly
Website