Philharmonischer Chor München, Münchner Philharmoniker

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla is one of the brightest new stars of the classical music scene. At the age of 29 she was appointed Chief Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which once catapulted Simon Rattle to the summit of the international musical world. Together with the Munich Philharmonic this charismatic conductor will tackle Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony, which has been one of the composer’s most popular works since its triumphant premiere in Berlin in December 1895. The finale is vividly theatrical, as just before the entrance of the chorus various distant instruments are heard, including “four trumpets from the opposite direction.” “Everything,” Mahler wrote, sounds “as if it is coming across from another world. And – I think the effect is one that no one will be able to escape. – One is beaten to the ground with clubs and then ascends to the highest heights on the wings of angels.” This final effect is reserved for the choir, used as quietly as possible to announce the redemptive message of the resurrection. In this guest performance by the Munich Philharmonic this role is taken by the Munich Philharmonic Choir. The soloists are the American star soprano Talise Trevigne and the Hamburg-born mezzo soprano Okka von der Damerau, whose warm, dark timbre is also attracting international attention.