Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Gatti, Gerstein

Often called the “Miraculous Harp,” this world-class orchestra ranks among the top ten in the world. Experience its magical sound in works by Schumann and Mahler.

Kindred spirits who never met. Robert Schumann and Gustav Mahler were not only great composers but also visionary minds. Schumann seemed to compose—and think—for at least three people at once. Alongside himself, he imagined the fiery and direct Florestan and the dreamer Eusebius, two contrasting personas striving for harmony in his Piano Concerto—the only one he ever wrote, despite being an exceptional pianist, as was his wife Clara Schumann.

Mahler, by contrast, was defined by a singular personality—a titan with the power to create entire new musical worlds. Yet his inner conflict stemmed from a desperate search for belonging. As he famously said: "I am thrice homeless: as a Czech among Austrians, as an Austrian among Germans, and as a Jew in the whole world." His Symphony No. 5 is a breathtaking sonic odyssey, from the lonely lament of the opening trumpet call to its triumphant and resolute major-key conclusion.

Though vastly different, both composers profoundly reshaped the artistic universe. They believed in the immense power of music and art—perhaps even more than in their own words. Their legacy has lost none of its force over time; if anything, it has only gained momentum. And when brought to life by the Staatskapelle Dresden, often called the miraculous harp, under the baton of Daniele Gatti, with the piano magic of Kirill Gerstein, nothing less than sheer musical intoxication awaits.

Ticket prices: 690 – 4 690 CZK