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A birthday retrospective in Boston: Andris Nelsons and the BSO perform Debussy and Mahler

By Kevin Wells, 04 October 2025

Andris Nelsons celebrates Symphony Hall’s 125th anniversary with two works contemporaneous to the hall’s first season: Debussy’s Nocturnes and Mahler’s Symphony no. 4 (both premiered in 1901).

***11

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Boston

04 Oct 2025

Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony perform Debussy and Mahler

By Kevin Wells

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Cologne

Music from Wonderland to Heaven at Kölner Philharmonie

By Kurt Gottschalk, 29 June 2025

Hanna-Elisabeth Müller joined the visiting Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin for Mahler's Fourth Symphony and Unsuk Chin's surprising Puzzles and Games, derived from her opera Alice in Wonderland.

*****

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*****

Cologne

29 Jun 2025

Music from Wonderland to Heaven at Kölner Philharmonie

By Kurt Gottschalk

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Toronto

Springtime in Toronto: touring programme needs some rethinking

By Michelle Assay, 20 March 2025

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s latest concert, tipped for European touring next year, fails to convince.

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Toronto

20 Mar 2025

Springtime in Toronto: touring programme needs some rethinking

By Michelle Assay

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Berlin

Music against Death: Joana Mallwitz conducts Nono and Mahler in Berlin

By David Grundy, 14 September 2024

Joana Mallwitz pairs rare Luigi Nono with Mahler's Fourth Symphony at the Konzerthausorchester's Musikfest Berlin programme.

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Berlin

14 Sep 2024

Music against Death: Joana Mallwitz conducts Nono and Mahler in Berlin

By David Grundy

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Lenox

James Gaffigan leads a heavenly Mahler 4 at Tanglewood

By Cameron Kelsall, 11 August 2024

In his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Gaffigan threads the needle between innocence and irony in Mahler's great work, ably supported by soprano Elena Villalón.

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Lenox

11 Aug 2024

James Gaffigan leads a heavenly Mahler 4 at Tanglewood

By Cameron Kelsall

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Hamburg

Julia Lezhneva and Ádám Fischer impress in Haydn and Mahler at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall, 07 July 2024

Sometimes the programme just feels right: a dramatic cantata by Haydn, a “pantomime grotesque” by Bartók and Mahler's Fourth Symphony. Colour and contrasts galore from soloist, conductor and orchestra.

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Hamburg

07 Jul 2024

Julia Lezhneva and Ádám Fischer impress in Haydn and Mahler

By Alexander Hall

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New York City

Outstanding Golda Schultz enhances New York Philharmonic concert

By Edward Sava-Segal, 31 January 2024

The evening's other soloist, Francesco Piemontesi, captivates the audience with his elegant and assured playing in Mozart.

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New York City

31 Jan 2024

Outstanding Golda Schultz enhances New York Philharmonic concert

By Edward Sava-Segal

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London

Vladimir Jurowski and the Bayerische Staatsorchester make it all look so easy

By Nick Boston, 19 September 2023

Sumptuous Wagner and effortless Mahler from the Bayrisches Staatsorchester, cleanly expressive Schumann from Yefim Bronfman and richly communicative singing from Louise Alder.

*****

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*****

London

19 Sep 2023

Jurowski and the Bayerische Staatsorchester make it all look so easy

By Nick Boston

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Manchester

Mahler and Wigglesworth's Magnifcat in Manchester

By Rohan Shotton, 23 March 2023

Ryan Wigglesworth conducts the UK premiere of his own Magnificat with The Hallé in Bridgewater Hall.

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Manchester

23 Mar 2023

Mahler and Wigglesworth's Magnifcat in Manchester

By Rohan Shotton

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New York City

A remarkable Mahler 4 from Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

By Edward Sava-Segal, 13 December 2022

Philadelphia Orchestra principal Ricardo Morales also offers grace and unassuming virtuosity in Mozart's Clarinet Concerto.

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New York City

13 Dec 2022

A remarkable Mahler 4 from the Philadelphia Orchestra

By Edward Sava-Segal

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London

Ryan Bancroft and the BBC NOW go through the looking glass

By Alexander Hall, 03 August 2022

What did Alice actually find on this occasion? A contemporary piece by Caroline Shaw, Mendelssohn's most popular concerto and the ultimate journey back to childhood and beyond in Mahler's Fourth Symphony.

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London

03 Aug 2022

Ryan Bancroft and the BBC NOW go through the looking glass

By Alexander Hall

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Hereford

Engaging with the past: Martinsson and Mahler at the Three Choirs Festival

By Simon Cummings, 24 July 2022

Rolf Martinsson opts for clichéd opulence in his song cycle Ich denke Dein…, while Emilia Hoving delivers a sublime, conflicted account of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.

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Hereford

24 Jul 2022

Engaging with the past at the Three Choirs Festival

By Simon Cummings

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London

Jaunty Mahler from Ádám Fischer and the OAE

By Mark Pullinger, 08 March 2022

With his impish grin, the Hungarian conductor revels in Mahler's “heavenly” Fourth Symphony as clothed in refreshing period instrument colours.

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London

08 Mar 2022

Jaunty Mahler from Ádám Fischer and the OAE

By Mark Pullinger

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Belfast

Rustioni’s celestial Mahler in Belfast

By Leighton Jones, 04 February 2022

Two highly complementary works by Strauss and Mahler bring a satisfying evening of beautifully executed music-making between the Ulster Orchestra and their chief conductor.

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Belfast

04 Feb 2022

Rustioni’s celestial Mahler in Belfast

By Leighton Jones

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Birmingham

Kazuki Yamada states his intentions with the CBSO and Mahler

By Robert Gainer, 19 January 2022

With the help of soprano Fatma Said and a compelling programme, the incoming City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra chief conductor made good on his promise and past performances.

*****

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*****

Birmingham

19 Jan 2022

Kazuki Yamada states his intentions with the CBSO and Mahler

By Robert Gainer

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London

A mad king and an angelic voice: Kirill Karabits and the London Symphony Orchestra

By Alexander Hall, 16 December 2021

Jump-ins are always risky: Kirill Karabits took over this LSO programme from Sir Simon Rattle. Though he left his mark with Debussy and Berlioz, his credentials in Mahler were open to question.

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London

16 Dec 2021

A mad king and an angelic voice: Karabits and the LSO

By Alexander Hall

Atlanta

A perfect pair: Barber’s Knoxville and Mahler's Fourth in Atlanta

By Timothy Robson, 10 June 2021

Robert Spano conducts a fine pairing of Romantic works in his final performance with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra after twenty years as their music director.

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Atlanta

10 Jun 2021

A perfect pair: Barber’s Knoxville and Mahler's Fourth in Atlanta

By Timothy Robson

Sydney

Heavenly melodies: Sydney Symphony performs Schubert and Mahler

By David Larkin, 08 May 2021

Mahler and Schubert: masters of both song and symphony. Jacqueline Porter is the soloist as the SSO under Umberto Clerici perform Schubert arrangements and Mahler's classical Fourth Symphony.

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Sydney

08 May 2021

Heavenly melodies: Sydney Symphony performs Schubert and Mahler

By David Larkin

Philadelphia

Nézet-Séguin conducts a chamber-scaled Mahler 4 in Philadelphia

By Linda Holt, 03 December 2020

The Philadelphia Orchestra plays Edwin Stein's rarely heard chamber reduction of Mahler 4, perfect for these socially distanced times.

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Philadelphia

03 Dec 2020

Nézet-Séguin conducts a chamber-scaled Mahler 4 in Philadelphia

By Linda Holt

Gothenburg

Barbara Hannigan tackles Mahler’s Fourth in Gothenburg

By Edward Sava-Segal, 01 October 2020

Singing as well as conducting, Barbara Hannigan leads the GSO in symphonies by Haydn and Mahler.

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Gothenburg

01 Oct 2020

Barbara Hannigan tackles Mahler’s Fourth in Gothenburg

By Edward Sava-Segal

Edinburgh

Alma and Gustav Mahler side by side with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

By David Smythe, 30 January 2020

Mr and Mrs: The Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Kensho Watanabe explore Alma Mahler’s early songs and Gustav Mahler’s sunny Fourth Symphony with Karen Cargill.

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Edinburgh

30 Jan 2020

Alma and Gustav Mahler side by side with the SCO

By David Smythe

Cleveland

Jakub Hrůša leads The Cleveland Orchestra in John Adams’ On the Transmigration of Souls

By Timothy Robson, 14 November 2019

A brilliant programming decision paired Adams’s 9/11 memorial with Mahler’s life-affirming Symphony no. 4, with the fine soprano Joelle Harvey as soloist.

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Cleveland

14 Nov 2019

Jakub Hrůša leads TCO in John Adams’ On the Transmigration of Souls

By Timothy Robson

Vienna

Melodic extremes: Harding and the Wiener Philharmoniker perform Sibelius and Mahler

By Chanda VanderHart, 20 September 2019

Christiane Karg is the resplendent soprano in a wonderful performance of Mahler's Fourth at the Konzerthaus.

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Vienna

20 Sep 2019

Melodic extremes from Harding and the Wiener Philharmoniker

By Chanda VanderHart

London

Prom 33: Bychkov and the BBC SO embrace the spirit of Mahler past and present

By Alexander Hall, 11 August 2019

The BBC Symphony Orchestra in exceptionally fine form under Semyon Bychkov explore the links from Schubert to Mahler and the present-day Glanert.

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London

11 Aug 2019

Bychkov and the BBC SO embrace the spirit of Mahler

By Alexander Hall

London

Bohemian Rhapsody: Haitink rocks 90 with the LSO

By Mark Pullinger, 14 March 2019

A wonderful evening of unforced, smiling music-making from Bernard Haitink, Isabelle Faust and the London Symphony Orchestra.

*****

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London

14 Mar 2019

Bohemian Rhapsody: Haitink rocks 90 with the LSO

By Mark Pullinger

Berlin

Cool brilliance: Currentzis conducts Mahler at the Philharmonie

By Hugo Shirley, 05 December 2018

Theodor Currentzis and his musicAeterna bring blistering detail and revelatory playing to Wunderhorn-period Mahler, but it ultimately proves short on warmth.

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Berlin

05 Dec 2018

Cool brilliance: Currentzis conducts Mahler at the Philharmonie

By Hugo Shirley

London

Prom 54: Enescu sparks interest, Bartók disappoints, Mahler shows the path to bliss

By David Karlin, 22 August 2018

Anna Lucia Richter provides a superb finish to a highly romantic Mahler 4 from Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra.

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London

22 Aug 2018

Prom 54: Bartók disappoints, Mahler sends us to bliss

By David Karlin

Verbier

Angelic voices in the Swiss mountains: Classy Kavakos and serene Ying Fang join Eschenbach

By Mark Thomas, 23 July 2018

Classy performances from Leonidas Kavakos and Ying Fang, joining Christoph Eschenbach and the Verbier Festival Orchestra in a polished Berg Violin Concerto and a sublime Mahler 4.

****1

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Verbier

23 Jul 2018

Angelic voices in the Swiss mountains

By Mark Thomas

New York City

Carnegie Hall’s season ends on a high note, thanks to MTT and the Met Orchestra

By Edward Sava-Segal, 05 June 2018

In a program featuring music by Mozart and Mahler, the third work – Ruggles' Evocations – was Michael Tilson Thomas' most interesting contribution.

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New York City

05 Jun 2018

Carnegie Hall’s season ends on a high note

By Edward Sava-Segal

London

One step towards paradise: heavenly Mahler from Chen Reiss with the Philharmonia

By Mark Pullinger, 11 February 2018

A majestic Mahler 4 from the Philharmonia under Lahav Shani, crowned by Chen Reiss’ wide-eyed rendition of Das himmlische Leben.

****1

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London

11 Feb 2018

One step towards paradise: Chen Reiss and the Philharmonia

By Mark Pullinger

Prague

Season opener heralds a new era for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik, 19 October 2017

Bereft of its guiding light, the orchestra shows resiliency and promise with a familiar face at the podium.

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Prague

19 Oct 2017

Season opener heralds a new era for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik

Birmingham

Gražinytė-Tyla's Childlike View of Heaven in Birmingham

By Peter Marks, 27 September 2017

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra brought a fresh approach to Mahler's Fourth Symphony and the harp took centre stage for a change with a concerto première.

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Birmingham

27 Sep 2017

Gražinytė-Tyla's Childlike View of Heaven in Birmingham

By Peter Marks

London

Prom 66: Gatti and the Concertgebouw are worlds apart in Vienna

By Alexander Hall, 02 September 2017

The Concertgebouw and Daniele Gatti paint two very different pictures of Old Vienna: a maddeningly lifeless view of a Haydn symphony and a magical realisation of Mahler's shortest symphonic work.

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London

02 Sep 2017

Gatti and the Concertgebouw are worlds apart in Vienna

By Alexander Hall

Lenox

A Tanglewood afternoon without clouds

By Edward Sava-Segal, 09 July 2017

A Sunday afternoon program at Tanglewood introduced a young virtuoso and emphasized Mahler's Fourth Symphony's classicism.

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Lenox

09 Jul 2017

A Tanglewood afternoon without clouds

By Edward Sava-Segal

New York City

Valery Gergiev conducts the Munich Philharmonic in a problematic performance at Carnegie Hall

By Edward Sava-Segal, 05 April 2017

Valery Gergiev's partnership with the Munich Phiharmonic is still a very young one and their common path can lead in many directions.

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New York City

05 Apr 2017

Valery Gergiev conducts the Munich Philharmonic

By Edward Sava-Segal

London

New York Philharmonic opens its residency with polished Bartók and Mahler

By Penny Homer, 31 March 2017

Glimpses of fire amid refined elegance at the Barbican.

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London

31 Mar 2017

Polished Bartók and Mahler from the NY Philharmonic

By Penny Homer

New York City

Brilliant Auerbach and muddled Mahler from the New York Philharmonic

By Rebecca Lentjes, 01 March 2017

The New York Philharmonic brought two works to the stage at David Geffen Hall last week; their extremely polished rendition of Lera Auerbach's violin concerto contrasted starkly with their under-rehearsed Mahler.

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New York City

01 Mar 2017

Brilliant Auerbach and muddled Mahler

By Rebecca Lentjes

Oslo

Portents of Heaven: Gabrieli, Bach and Mahler in Oslo

By Aksel Tollåli, 16 February 2017

The Oslo Philharmonic played finely tuned Gabrieli and virtuosic Bach, finishing with a surprisingly sinister performance of Mahler's Fourth Symphony.

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Oslo

16 Feb 2017

Portents of Heaven: Gabrieli, Bach and Mahler in Oslo

By Aksel Tollåli

Glasgow

Bittersweet Mahler 4 from Donald Runnicles and the BBCSSO

By Gregor Forbes, 03 November 2016

Donald Runnicles, Carolyn Sampson and the BBC SSO shine in a programme of early Mozart and Mahler's Fourth Symphony.

****1

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Glasgow

03 Nov 2016

Bittersweet Mahler 4 from Donald Runnicles

By Gregor Forbes

London

Jurowski and the LPO dig deep in Mahler

By Alexander Hall, 12 October 2016

Young French pianist Lucas Debargue and the Russian soprano Sofia Fomina join the LPO and Vladimir Jurowski for a programme of Haydn, Mozart and Mahler.

***11

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London

12 Oct 2016

Jurowski and the LPO dig deep in Mahler

By Alexander Hall

London

The skull beneath the skin: the LSO's take on Sibelius and Mahler

By Alexander Hall, 25 September 2016

The London Symphony Orchestra under their Principal Guest Conductor Daniel Harding perform Mahler's Fourth and a world première as well as accompanying Nikolaj Znaider in Sibelius' Violin Concerto.

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London

25 Sep 2016

The skull beneath the skin

By Alexander Hall

Auckland

Strauss impresses but Mahler falls flat in Auckland

By Simon Holden, 05 August 2016

Four Last Songs impresses with the radiant Christiane Libor, Mahler demands a little more tension and sense of propulsion than conductor Edo de Waart provided.

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Auckland

05 Aug 2016

Strauss impresses but Mahler falls flat in Auckland

By Simon Holden

Dublin

Moving Mahler 4 but Pogostkina steals the show with exhilarating Mendelssohn

By Andrew Larkin, 06 May 2016

Buribayev and NSO deliver a powerful Mahler 4 while Ailish Tynan sings of the heavenly delights, while Alina Pogostkina dishes up outstanding Mendelssohn.

****1

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Dublin

06 May 2016

Pogostkina steals the show with exhilarating Mendelssohn

By Andrew Larkin

Birmingham

Abrahamsen's Left, Alone receives UK première

By Robert Gainer, 28 April 2016

Sandwiched between Debussy’s charming Children’s Corner and Mahler’s invitation to heaven, Abrahamsen unveiled his piano concerto for left hand. It was certainly a night for stark contrasts in tone and theme.

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Birmingham

28 Apr 2016

Abrahamsen's Left, Alone receives UK première

By Robert Gainer

Chicago

Das himmlische Leben indeed: Muti conducts Mahler in Chicago

By Sam Jacobson, 15 April 2016

A rare sighting of Muti and Mahler had stellar results in the bucolic Fourth Symphony, prefaced by two of Tchaikovsky's Shakespearean tone poems.

****1

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Chicago

15 Apr 2016

Das himmlische Leben indeed: Muti conducts Mahler

By Sam Jacobson

Manchester

Hindemith, Ravel and Mahler from the BBC Philharmonic

By Rohan Shotton, 29 January 2016

Spanish conductor Jesús López Cobos’ debut appearance with the BBC Philharmonic produced some wonderful results with a thoughtful and widely-varying programme of twentieth century music.

****1

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Manchester

29 Jan 2016

Hindemith, Ravel and Mahler from the BBC Philharmonic

By Rohan Shotton

London

Just So: Haitink’s heavenly Mahler 4 with Anna Lucia Richter and the LSO

By Mark Pullinger, 20 September 2015

Bernard Haitink presides over a performance of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra which was “Just So” – everything in its place.

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London

20 Sep 2015

Just So: Haitink’s heavenly Mahler 4

By Mark Pullinger

London

Prom 64: Caprine mythology, oriental adventures and heavenly Mahler from Thomas Søndergård and the BBCNOW

By Kathryn Wareham, 03 September 2015

Making its fourth Proms appearance this season, the BBC National Orchestra transported the audience from the Orient in Nielsen’s Aladdin, to Ancient Greece for a world première, then to heaven in Mahler’s Symphony no. 4.

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London

03 Sep 2015

Caprine mythology, oriental adventures and heavenly Mahler

By Kathryn Wareham

Milan

The Unbearable Lightness of Being the Budapest Festival Orchestra

By Courtney Smith, 01 August 2015

Elegant Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra team with seasoned soloists, Yefim Bronfman and Miah Persson, for peerless Bartók and Mahler.

*****

*****

Milan

01 Aug 2015

The Budapest Festival Orchestra in Milan

By Courtney Smith

São Paulo

Transforming its sound: the Budapest Festival Orchestra in Brazil

By Ivan Chiarelli, 29 June 2015

Iván Fischer, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra brought a high level of intimacy with, and understanding of, the repertoire performed in the evening’s programme in São Paulo.

****1

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São Paulo

29 Jun 2015

Transforming its sound: the Budapest Festival Orchestra in Brazil

By Ivan Chiarelli