Steinaecker, Barron & Mahler Academy Orchestra

Gustav Mahler encountered finitude early: six of his siblings died in childhood. He composed the Kindertotenlieder to texts by Friedrich Rückert, which he wrote after two of his children had passed away. Mahler also addressed the theme of farewell in his 9th Symphony – the last composition he completed: "O youth! Vanished! O love! Blown away! [...] Live well! Live well!" he noted in the score. Philipp von Steinaecker and singer Fleur Barron perform this moving program with a unique ensemble: The Mahler Academy Orchestra consists of members from top European orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, as well as musicians from the Gustav Mahler Academy founded by Claudio Abbado. The performance features original instruments, with which the sound of the Vienna Philharmonic around 1900 has been meticulously reconstructed. The revolutionary result is a Mahler that sounds completely new to contemporary ears – full of color, warmth, and existential starkness.