Christmas with Mahler's Symphony No. 3

A monumental journey from primal power to stillness. Mahler’s Third Symphony is one of those rare works that you don’t just listen to, but truly experience. In the days leading up to Christmas, this music takes on an extra significance: a search for meaning, comfort, and connection. Jun Märkl continues his Mahler journey with this monumental work for large orchestra, featuring mezzo-soprano Sophie Harmsen—internationally acclaimed for her warm and direct expression—and two choirs. This is not a repertoire piece to simply check off a list, but a form of world-building that can only be fully experienced in the concert hall. One that makes your own world a little bigger for a moment.

In his six-movement Third Symphony, Mahler sought to capture “the entire world”: from primal energy to flora, fauna, humanity, angels, and ultimately love. Each movement offers a new perspective on the universe, with long dramatic arcs and an incredible richness of color in the massive orchestral ensemble. The female voices of the Laurens Symphony and the National Boys’ Choir add humanity, clarity, and heavenly lightness, while Harmsen deepens the tranquil introspection of the fourth movement. A grand, honest, and physical work that you must experience.