3. Mahler

Mahler's Third

Monumental and visionary — Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 3 is one of the greatest achievements in the history of symphonic music. Its execution requires extraordinary endurance and the full commitment of all participants. During the 64th Bydgoszcz Music Festival, this work will be performed by the Pomeranian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, soloist, choirs and internationally acclaimed conductor Raoul Grüneis.

A symphony that covers the whole world

Mahler considered his Third Symphony to be a unique work. “The whole world is reflected in it as in a mirror,” he wrote of the composition he worked on between 1893 and 1896, which is the longest of his symphonies and one of the most extensive in the entire concert repertoire.

The composer guides the listener through an extraordinary musical journey — from the power of nature and the elements, through the world of plants, animals and man, to the realm of spirituality and love. In this large, six-part structure, monumental orchestral sounds, lyrical solo fragments and choral parts intertwine, creating a work of exceptional scale and philosophical depth.

Limor Gaash — voice in Mahler's world

The mezzo-soprano part will be performed by Limor Gaash, a German-Israeli singer who belongs to the group of the most interesting artists of the young generation. A graduate of prestigious music universities in Essen and Tel Aviv, she is the recipient of numerous artistic scholarships, including the Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung.

The artist successfully combines opera and concert activities. Her repertoire includes operatic works, also songs and oratory music from different eras, with a special place in it works with a deep literary and emotional dimension.

In Mahler's Symphony No. 3, the mezzo-soprano becomes a voice of reflection and spiritual focus. The famous aria “O Mensch!” The words of Friedrich Nietzsche are among the most moving parts of the whole work and constitute one of his most important dramaturgic points.

A great community of voices

In addition to the orchestra and the soloist, the Rubinka Choir of the State Ensemble of Music Schools in Bydgoszcz prepared by Agnieszka Sowa and the Women's Festival Choir under the direction of Magdalena Filipska will take part in the performance of the work.

The presence of children's and women's voices gives the symphony a special dimension. Mahler uses them not only as a sound element, but also as a symbol of innocence, light and hope, which lead the listener towards the final of the work.

Raoul Grüneis and the great Mahler tradition

The concert from behind the conductor's desk will be conducted by Raoul Grüneis, appreciated for his interpretations of a great symphonic repertoire and his ability to build extensive musical narratives. Mahler's Symphony No. 3 requires special skills from the conductor — a combination of precision, imagination and the ability to maintain dramatic tension in a work lasting nearly two hours.

Final full of light

Symphony No. 3 is not just a monumental orchestral work. It is a musical reflection on the place of man in the world, on nature, spirituality and the meaning of existence. Mahler has created a piece that impresses with its pomp, but at the same time moves with intimacy and sincerity of expression.

The performance of this masterpiece during the Bydgoszcz Music Festival will be one of the most anticipated events of this year's edition — an encounter with music, which for more than a hundred years remains one of the most powerful and touching experiences in the history of symphony.