'Sensational': Authentic Symphony No. 5
As a prelude to the Mahler Festival, you can enjoy a special ‘authentic‘ performance of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony on Thursday, September 12th. The Mahler Academy Orchestra will play instruments copied from the collection that Mahler purchased during his time as conductor of the Vienna Symphony. Their recording of Mahler's Ninth was met with praise. 'Sensational' and 'a completely new listening experience' were the reactions from the press.
What did Mahler's Fifth Symphony sound like at the beginning of the last century? The Mahler Academy Orchestra, attached to the Gustav Mahler Academy Bolzano-Bozen, sheds new light on performance practice in Mahler's time with the Originalklang-Project. Under the baton of Philipp von Steinaecker, musicians from top European ensembles have come together. In Toblach, where Mahler composed his last works, they mastered playing on original Viennese instruments from around 1900. During concerts, the orchestra plays on instruments modelled on those Mahler bought when he was conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic.
Next to Mahler's Fifth, Norwegian star pianist Leif Ove Andsnes will solo in Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto. Fun fact: Mahler conducted this work at the New York Philharmonic in 1910 with Rachmaninoff himself as soloist. The Mahler Academy Orchestra's concert is a prelude to the Mahler Festival in May 2025.