Mahler 3

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra, choirs and soloists perform Mahler’s magnificent Symphony no. 3 in Harpa. Mahler’s 3rd is a world unto itself – simultaneously an ode to nature and a profound examination of the human condition. The composer wrote the symphony on the banks of Attersee in Austria where images of weather, flora and fauna intertwined with the music. “It is as though the river of creation has swept me up!” the composer wrote in a letter. The listener is pulled along by the same creative current on an enchanting journey. The epic first movement opens with the burst of summer, and each of the subsequent ones is dedicated to living organisms: flowers in a meadow, animals in a forest, and man himself – while the final two movements kneel to higher powers: angels and love. The last movement is a heartfelt song of gratitude to the entire world.

The symphony is scored for an oversized symphony orchestra, two choirs and a soprano. The soloist in Harpa is Germany’s Christina Bock, lauded for her expressive and dynamic performances. The orchestra will be led by Eva Ollikainen, chief conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.