From May 9 through May 18, 2025, The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam will transform into the epicenter of Gustav Mahler's musical heritage with the third Mahler Festival in its history. For ten days, all of the Austrian composer's symphonies and songs will resound, performed by some of the world's most renowned orchestras. Taking place 105 years after the first Mahler Festival in 1920, this festival promises a unique chronological journey through Mahler's symphonic oeuvre, from Symphony No. 1 to the unfinished Tenth.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Klaus Mäkelä, opens with the First Symphony, while the Berliner Philharmoniker closes the festival with the Tenth. In between, orchestras from three continents - such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Jaap van Zweden and the NHK Symphony Orchestra from Tokyo under Fabio Luisi - bring Mahler's great works to life. In the Small Hall, pianist Julius Drake performs the intimate song repertoire with young singers, while fringe programming with lectures, interviews and podcasts offers additional depth.
Mahler had a special bond with Amsterdam, which he called his "second musical homeland. He conducted his own works here on several occasions and was embraced by the public. This love culminated in 1920 when Willem Mengelberg organized the first Mahler Festival. After a successful edition in 1995 and an attempt canceled by corona in 2020, the festival in 2025 will have an international allure with top orchestras from Europe, America and Asia.
Passe-partouts are sold out, but single tickets for some concerts are still available through the website. The Mahler Festival 2025 promises not only a celebration of Mahler's music, but also an ode to his lasting influence worldwide - and to Amsterdam's pioneering role in the Mahler revival. A not-to-be-missed experience for lovers of classical music and symphonic grandeur.