Mahler's Symphony No. 1

Led by chief conductor Jun Märkl, the Residentie Orkest pays tribute to Gustav Mahler. His impressive Symphony No. 1 is full of surprises: from the awakening of nature and a folk dance to a darkly ironic variation on Brother John and influences from Jewish klezmer music - a reflection of Mahler's cultural roots. This rich and multi-layered masterpiece forms an intriguing dialogue with the music of the brilliant yet forgotten composer Erwin Schulhoff.

The Czech-Jewish composer Erwin Schulhoff was a musical chameleon, blending influences from Impressionism, Dadaism, Viennese classical music, Slavic folk tunes and jazz. A Jewish communist and activist, he tragically died in a German concentration camp during World War II, but his music lives on. The evening begins with his playful, jazzy Suite for Chamber Orchestra, followed by the deeply moving  Menschheit, a vocal composition in which mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj beautifully conveys both the fragility and strength of the human spirit.