05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Second Mahler Festival in Amsterdam. 75 years after the First Festival, Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1920, and 25 years before the Third Festival, Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 2020.

First idea for a Second Festival in Amsterdam when the director of the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO), Martijn Sanders, was looking for information in the book ‘Historie en kroniek van het Concertgebouw en het Concertgebouworkest’ (History and chronicle of the Concertgebouw and the Concertgebouw Orchestra) and found an article about the Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1920 in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive. In 1995 it would be 75 years since the First Festival, Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1920.

02-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. 02-05-1995 until 17-05-1995. Poster.

Relevant

Program

01-05-1995 until 17-05-1995 (17 days), Mahlerfest, 19 performances:

18-05-1995: Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) died 84 years ago.

Soloists

  • Alessandra Marc (soprano).
  • Andreas Schmidt (baritone).
  • Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano).
  • Barbara Bonney (soprano).
  • Benn Heppner (tenor).
  • Charlotte Margiono.
  • Cyndia Sieden (soprano).
  • Gary Lakes (tenor).
  • Hakan Hagegard (baritone).
  • Jard van Nes (mezzo-soprano).
  • Jennifer Larmore (mezzo-soprano).
  • Julia Faulkner (soprano).
  • Marjana Lipovsek (mezzo-soprano).
  • Robert Holl (bass).
  • Thomas Hampson (1955) (baritone).

Non-soloists

  • Groot Omroepkoor (The Netherlands Radio Choir) (conductor: Martin Wright).
  • Isabelle van Keulen (violin).
  • Jongenskoor van de koorschool St Bavo, Haarlem (Boys Choir St Bavo) (conductor: Fons Ziekman).
  • Kuhn’s Mixed Choir (conductor: Pavel Huhn).
  • Prague Philharmonic Choir.
  • Ronald Brautigam (piano).
  • Sacramentskoor Breda (Sacrament Choir) (conductor: Walther Cantrijn).
  • Stadtischer Musikverein zu Dusseldorf (conductor: Hartmut Schmidt).
  • Wolfram Rieger (piano).
  • Women of the Groot Omroepkoor (The Netherlands Radio Choir) (conductor: Martin Wright).

Orchestras

Conductors

Specials guests

  • Prince Claus (1926-2002), father of Willem-Alexander King of the Netherlands. Opening exhibition ‘Mahler in Amsterdam; van Mengelberg tot Chailly’.
  • Prince Royal Willem-Alexander (1967). In 2002 married to Máxima (1971). Since 2013 King and Queen of the Netherlands. Máxima is patroness of the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO).
  • Prime Minister Kok (1938-2018).
  • Marina Fistoulari Mahler (1943).

Exhibitions

  • Exhibition in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive on the occasion of the Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Exhibition ‘Mahler in Amsterdam; from Mengelberg to Chailly’ and book. From 21-03-1995 until 11-06-1995. With ‘audio exhibition’ (audio fragments) of recordings of Mahler’s music in Amsterdam. Opened by Price Claus, father of Willem-Alexander King of the Netherlands. Gemeentearchief Amsterdam. Amsteldijk 67, Amsterdam (address in 1995).
  • Exhibition in the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw. During the festival the photographic exhibition ‘A portrait of Mahler’, composed by the American publisher and conductor Gilbert Kaplan (1941-2016), hangs in the entrance hall of the Concertgebouw. In addition, the book ‘The Mahler Album’ appears with all 142 surviving photos of Mahler.
  • Exhibtion in de Mahler tent: Photo exhibition: ‘Art in Vienna around 1900’
  • Exhibtion in de Mahler tent: Photo exhibition: ‘Architecture in Vienna in the fin de siècle’.
  • Exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam about the significance of Viennese art. The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam shows from 29 April to 2 July: ‘Dancing girls: along the edges of expressionism’, with the theme of the changes in painting in Mahler’s time. There is work by Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1980), Kirchner, Rainer, Appel and Birza, among others.
  • Exhibition in the Hague Municipal museum (Haags Gemeentemuseum). Under the title ‘Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951), conductor’, the Hague Gemeentemuseum gives an impression of the man and musician Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951) with the aid of archival material from 3 May to 25 June.
  • Exhibition in the Hague Municipal museum (Haags Gemeentemuseum): From 3 May to 18 June ‘Mahler in manuscript’, including sketches of Mahler’s compositions and his correspondence with Mengelberg.

Documentaries

Publications

  • ‘Gustav Mahler: the world listens’ is in the Concertgebouw for 70 guilders for sale. A bulky, almost three kilo weighting book with the program, photos, and many articles about Mahler and Mengelberg.
  • ‘Mahler in Amsterdam, van Mengelberg tot Chailly’. On the occasion of the exhibition ‘Mahler in Amsterdam, from Mengelberg to Chailly’ in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive. From 21-03-1995 until 11-06-1995. Editing: Johan Giskes. Book and CD.
  • In a limited edition a facsimile edition of the handwritten score of Mahler’s Seventh Symphony, designed by Wim Crouwel, will be published. (490 guilders, luxurious edition 990 guilders).
  • The magazine Preludium of the Concertgebouw gives a detailed overview of all events in the May issue.

Recordings

  • Television: The Avro television transmits via Ned. 1 concert recordings and documentaries at the following times: 30 April 14h, 3 May 23.33h, 7 and 14 May 14h, 17 May 22.48h, 21st May 14h, 24th May 22.43h and 28th May 14h. In the first week of October a retrospective of the festival will be shown.
  • Radio: Through the joint broadcasters, direct broadcasts are provided via Radio 4, every evening from 7 pm, with the exception of 4, 6, 13 and 16 May. Also 6, 7 May 14h, so 14 May 10.30h. On the concert days 14-16h (except Sundays): Mahler in historical perspective. Live radio broadcasting to: France, Great Britain, Denmark and the United States (200 stations).
  • 14-05-1995 Excerpt video (2:13): Symphony No. 10, Vienna Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (GMJO), Bernard Haitink (1929).
  • Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Mahler Feest, The World Listened. Recordings by the RNW (Radio Netherlands Worldbroadcasting). Box. 06-1995.

Scientific committee

Symposium. From 13 to 16 May there will be a conference in, among others, the Kleine Zaal of the Concertgebouw in which renowned Mahler experts participate. Lectures in German and English. A publication will appear afterwards.

Miscellaneous

  • 4 days of scientific symposia.
  • 34,100 paying guests, 30% from abroad.
  • All Mahler concerts sold out.
  • Other related concerts sold for 90%.
  • Costs 7.000.000 guilders, 90% paid from own resources.
  • Tent and Vienna Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (GMJO) subsidized by the Municipality of Amsterdam and the Austrian government.
  • In the tent 25,600 visitors (capacity 2,000). Capacity Great Hall 1,500.
  • Live radio broadcasting to: France, Great Britain, Denmark and the United States (200 stations).

Organising committee

Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw:

  • Martijn Sanders. What the World Broadcast does not reveal is that the BPO – who are also impressively represented with 5 and 9 under Claudio Abbado – did a great deal of effort around 1995 to throw a spanner in the works. The BPO was allowed to designate a favorite Mahler symphony (and called 6), just like fellow orchestras, but protested when the Concertgebouw also assigned them the numbers 7 and 9, while the VPO were allowed to play 4 and 5. That was exactly what the BPO wanted. Sanders barely managed to prevent a stalemate. The Viennese were pleased with 4 and 7 after an exchange. To fill the gap between these Mahlers (with insurmountable accommodation costs, because the symphonies were played in order), the festival was given a two-day branch at the Festival of Flanders (Belgium).
  • Marian van der Meer.
  • Henriette de Wever.
  • Frits Haen.

Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO):

  • Jan Zekveld.
  • Truus de Leur.
  • Sjoerd van den Berg.
  • Frans Jan Burkens.
  • Hans Ferwerda.

The Hague municipal museum:

Logbook                                                                                          

14-10-1993. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. A first publication about the upcoming festival in 1995. Dutch newspaper. ‘International mammoth project refers to the importance of fallen music hero’, ‘No rehabilitation but a reference to his enormous importance’, ‘Mahler-feest 1995 puts Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951) on the slope’. Photo: Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951) May 1930.

1995. Mahler Festival 1995 Amsterdam. Flyer exposition ‘Mahler in Amsterdam, from Mengelberg to Chailly’ in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive 1/2.

1995. Mahler Festival 1995 Amsterdam. Flyer exposition ‘Mahler in Amsterdam, from Mengelberg to Chailly’ in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive 1/2.

21-03-1995. Opening of the exposition ‘Mahler in Amsterdam, from Mengelberg to Chailly’ by Prince Claus in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive by hitting (together with Riccardo Muti) on the worlds largest pauk. Arrival of Prince Claus in in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive. In the back a photo of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911).  The exhibition provides an overview of music life around the turn of the century, Mahler’s visits to Amsterdam and his circle of acquaintances, many photographs and writings from the archives, and government and private collections. For example, the manuscripts that Alma Mahler donated to the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) as a token of appreciation.

21-03-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. The largest pauk (kettledrum) in the world, 110.5 cm in diameter at the edge of the skin, was commissioned by Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951) in Amsterdam around 1920. The idea is to strengthen the low tones in the percussion in Mahler’s symphonies. Ready in 1922.

21-03-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Dutch first day stamp and envelop.

21-03-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. ‘Mahler in Amsterdam; van Mengelberg tot Chailly’ (1995). On the occasion of the exhibition ‘Mahler in Amsterdam; from Mengelberg to Chailly’ in the Amsterdam Municipal Archive. From 21-03-1995 until 11-06-1995. Editing: Johan Giskes. Book and CD.

26-04-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Tent program. Advertisement for additional ticket in the tent with live audio and video connectiona with the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw (across the street).

01-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Special edition of Gustav Mahlers Symphony no. 7. See Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1920.

01-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Book ‘Gustav Mahler the World Listens’ to commemorate the Mahler Festival 1995 in Amsterdam. By Donald Mitchell (1925-2017).

01-05-1995. Mahler Festival 1920 Amsterdam. Aerial view Museum of Square and Pavilion 1995. Left: Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw.

01-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw and back of the tent for additional audience. Seen from the Rijksmuseum. Some 1600 comfortable, bordeaux-red upholstered seats in neat rows await the Mahler enthusiasts who could not get a ticket for one of the Mahler performances in the Concertgebouw, or for whom the price was too high. In that tent, reasonable in atmosphere, but by the unconcerned shining sun very hot, the evening concerts on a huge video cloth and through a circle of speakers can be followed, for only 10 guilders.

The Schönberg Quartet had to build up the first musical atmosphere in the heat, after which two gentlemen talk about many facets of Mahler’s music: from the irony and the sarcasm, through the tempo of the adagietto from the fifth symphony to the influences of opera on his composing. Donald Mitchell (1925-2017), second in the world hierarchy of Mahler connoisseurs, wore statements and thoughts with British eloquence. Riccardo Chailly, chief of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, with the same eloquence did not answer, but presented some interesting observations and theories.

Then it was time to press buttons to activate the video system; the word ‘Mahler’ on the front balcon of the large hall came into the picture, as did the stage. So it worked, despite the heat! The Austrian ambassador then held a college of cultural studies in Vienna from 1897 to 1914. Quite a few visitors hurried to the cooler tent for the drinks and snacks.

01-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw and  entrance of the tent for additional audience. From 10 o’clock in the morning, documentaries and historical recordings of Leonard Bernstein, among others, will be screened. At 12.30 pm there is a free lunch concert, in the afternoon followed by documentary films. Every day at 5.30 pm musicologists give an introduction of about 40 minutes on the program of that evening.

And then there was not enough revealed yet. The company Mahler-guests, coached by the all but beaming director of the Concertgebouw, Martijn Sanders, walked to the real building where an exhibition of photo portraits of Mahler draws the attention in the coming weeks.

Shown is a selection from the more than 300 images collected by the Mahler medium Gilbert Kaplan; He is the New York investment advisor who worked as an amateur conductor of Mahler’s second symphony. Of course, this shrewd Mahlerfan and businessman gathered together his zealous collected Mahler stamp collection in a monumental book (‘The Mahler Album’) that costs about 175 guilders.

May we believe the press release, this album offers ‘a new insight into Mahler’s life and work’. Marina Mahler received the ‘first’ copy with the charm of a princess from a renowned dynasty.

01-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. 01-05-1995 Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)‘s Gurre-Lieder. Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Edo de Waart (1941). Poster.

02-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Opening festival. Donald Mitchell (1925-2017), an emotional Marina Fistoulari Mahler (1943), Henry-Louis de La Grange (1924-2017) and Riccardo Chailly (1953) at the unveiling of a memorial plaque in the Great Hall of the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw. Announcement by Marina Fistoulari Mahler (1943) of the founding of a Mahler Award with effect from 1996-1997.

02-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Memorial plaque: ‘1995 Mahlerfeest, Het Concertgebouw’.

02-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Bronze bust of Gustav Mahler (1950 c.) made by his daughter Maria Anna Mahler (Putzi) (1902-1907). Gift in 1995 from Gustav Mahlers’ granddaughter Marina Fistoulari Mahler (1943) to the Royal Concertgebouw on the occasion of the Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Mahlers daughter Anna Justine Mahler (Gucki) (1904-1988) was inspired by the image she had as a child from her father. During the Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995 the bust was in the entrance (glass extension) of the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw.

05-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Access pass. Interview Bernard Haitink (1929).

07-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Signature of Jard van Nes (mezzo-soprano).

08-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Poster.

08-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Riccardo Muti. Vienna only became enthusiastic for Mahler’s music in the 70s with Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) and Claudio Abbado (1933-2014). With Muti, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO) does not have as much Mahler experience yet.

12-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Poster.

15-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw and tent for additional audience. Café.

16-05-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Poster.

06-1995. Gustav Mahler Festival Amsterdam 1995. Mahler Feest, The World Listened. Recordings by the RNW (Radio Netherlands Worldbroadcasting). CD Box.

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Related posts:

  1. Mahler Festival 1920 Amsterdam
  2. Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951)
  3. Gustav Mahler’s Legacy
  4. Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw
  5. Gustav Mahler himself in The Netherlands (1903, 1904, 1906, 1909 and 1910)
  6. Hendrik (Han Henri) de Booy (1867-1964)

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