Thu, 10. 4. 2025, 19.00 hrs

A6 RESURRECTION

Venue: Zlín Congress Centre  |  Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s.  | 

Our Easter concert presents Gustav Mahler’s second symphony, a monumental vocal-instrumental work composed for soprano and alto solo, mixed choir and large orchestra.

The symphony is in five movements, falling more into the category of a symphonic cantata. Mahler, a native of the village of Kaliště, began work on the piece in January 1888 when he was second Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Opera, and at the same time working on his Symphony no. 1, but it was not completed until July 1894, six years later, with its completed form quite significantly affected by the death of his close friend and distinguished conductor Hans von Bülow, whose final farewell Mahler attended in person. He later commented that the singers in the choir stalls during the funeral reminded him of angels touching the heavens with their singing.

On completing the symphony Mahler made great efforts to have it performed, but the considerable demands on the number of musicians and singers initially made a performance seem almost unrealistic, and it was not until December 1895 that it was finally staged under the direction of Mahler himself. The audience’s reaction was rather cold, as was the case with almost all Mahler’s premieres, and it was only in subsequent performances in Munich and Basel that more favourable responses won greater acclaim for Mahler as a composer.

In tonight’s performance we welcome the soprano Kateřina Kněžíková and mezzo-soprano Jarmila Balážová, with the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno providing the choral component and Robert Kružík conducting.