Mahler's Symphony No. 5

Extremes of emotions

The tender Adagietto from Mahler's Fifth Symphony became world-famous as the soundtrack to Visconti's film Death in Venice. According to some, Mahler wrote it as a declaration of love to Alma, whom he married on March 9, 1902. After three partly vocal symphonies, the Fifth is purely instrumental. The work evoked extremes of emotion from the audience, much to the delight of Mahler himself. “Every part has its friends and enemies,” he wrote.

Promising debut

Alexander Soddy conducts Mahler's Fifth Symphony. The British conductor and pianist is permanently attached to the Nationaltheater Mannheim, where he also leads the opera orchestra's 'Akademiekonzerte'. His conducting skills have been compared to those of the legendary Carlos Kleiber. Soddy makes his promising debut tonight with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Concertgebouw.