In a historic gathering of Italy’s grandest symphony orchestras, the Milan Auditorium will host a remarkable Mahler Festival from October 22 to November 13, 2023. This unique musical initiative celebrates the first thirty years of the Milan Symphony Orchestra and the first twenty-five years of the Milan Symphony Chorus. Over three weeks, the festival will feature, for the first time in Italy, the complete symphonies and orchestral songs of the Bohemian composer Gustav Mahler.
In Ambra Redaelli’s words, President of the Milan Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra Foundation, “Vladimir Delman, the founder of our organization, used to say that only after thirty years of activity can an orchestra truly be called such. It is with this sense of responsibility and the joy of reaching such a significant milestone that we officially enter the celebrations for the Orchestra’s thirtieth anniversary.”
November 13, 1993, holds particular significance, as it was the day Maestro Vladimir Delman conducted the newborn Milan’s Orchestra Sinfonica: from that memorable concert, the Orchestra evolved into the internationally renowned ensemble it is today, performing in prestigious concert halls worldwide. A significant milestone like this deserves to be celebrated with friends. For the Orchestra, reaching its thirtieth anniversary inspired a unique challenge in the Italian symphonic landscape: to bring together the nation’s leading orchestras to celebrate Gustav Mahler, a composer deeply cherished by the Orchestra’s audience.
The Festival, consisting of 14 events featuring 10 symphonic institutions, includes the Filarmonica della Scala under the baton of Riccardo Chailly, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Manfred Honeck, Spira mirabilis, the Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali led by James Feddeck, the Orchestra della Toscana alongside the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana directed by Markus Stenz, the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai with Robert Treviño on the podium, the Orchestra della Fondazione Arena di Verona led by Marco Angius, the Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano and Trento conducted by Ottavio Dantone, and the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini directed by Omer Meir Wellber.
Ruben Jais, the General and Artistic Director of the Orchestra, explained: “Throughout the years, our connection with Mahler’s repertoire has grown so strong that the Milan City Council decided to name the area in front of the Auditorium ‘Largo Gustav Mahler.’ It was inaugurated in the presence of the composer’s granddaughter.“
Special Event: “Mahler’s Universe” – In addition to the remarkable live performances, we invite you to join us on Monday, October 23rd, and Tuesday, October 24th, at 8:00 PM, for “Mahler’s Universe.” This cinematic journey will feature the screening of 10 short films (5 per evening) dedicated to the symphonies of Gustav Mahler, taking place at the Forum Austriaco di Cultura in Piazza del Liberty, 8. We are delighted to announce that Marina Mahler will be in attendance, making this event even more remarkable. Moreover, Morten Solvik, Vice President of the Mahler Foundation, will also be joining to add his valuable insights to the occasion.
Notably, the Mahler Foundation has joined as a cultural partner for this prestigious festival, adding a significant dimension to the celebration of Gustav Mahler’s music and legacy.
Find the program at https://sinfonicadimilano.org/en/festival-mahler-2023
Tickets for the Mahler Festival are available for purchase through the Milan Auditorium’s official website (www.auditoriumdimilano.it) and various other authorized ticket sellers.
For more information about the Mahler Festival and a detailed schedule of events, please visit the Milan Auditorium’s website or contact the Milan Symphony Orchestra at (+39) 02 4826 2208 or info@orchestrasinfonica.it.