Klaus Mäkelä and Jennifer Johnston forge a meeting of minds with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam
Just over a year ago, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra gave their first concert with Klaus Mäkelä as their new Artistic Partner performing Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, an electrifying performance. One year on, that relationship is visibly evolving. Tonight saw him return to Mahler, this time the longest and most challenging symphony, the Third.
The Programme
The Musicians
The Academists
Twelve young musicians from the Academy of the Concertgebouw joined the orchestra for the first time.
The Dream Team!
This was to be the trombone’s night. Jörgen van Rijen’s solo was fabulous, and he very much deserved the loudest cheer of the evening. From stunning top notes to sophisticated phrasing, all was a dream. The whole lower brass section reigned supreme.
Taking a bow
Klaus Mäkelä | The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra | Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston | Laurens Symfonisch | Netherlands National Children’s Choir
Some interesting listening
In preparation for this concert, I trawled through different recordings of Mahler 3 (and there are quite a few), trying to work out which was my favourite… It seems the RCO had a similar idea and published this interesting link which includes a short video seamlessly joining recordings from past chief conductors: Eduard Van Beinum, Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Chailly, Mariss Jansons, Daniele Gatti. It’s brilliant, and now I really don’t know which is my favourite!!
The question is, where will Mäkelä’s performance sit amongst these greats?
AND, when will they record his version?
Will it be with the British mezzo-soprano, Jennifer Johnston?
And so, what did I decide? Which is my favourite recording?
I think it has to be this 2004 recording with Chailly and German mezzo-soprano, Petra Lang. This really is a celebration of nature, of life and beauty. The last movement is particularly wonderful.
Interested in hearing some more Mahler in Amsterdam?
The Mahler Festival 2025
The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam will be hosting a festival of Mahler’s symphonies and songs in May 2025 replacing the planned 2020 festival which was cancelled due to Corona.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra have a long and very proud association with Mahler, both as a composer and conductor. Indeed Mahler conducted performances of his own symphonies in this very hall, the Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Digging into the orchestra’s own archives gives you a much clearer picture and is quite illuminating.
The archive evidence:
Pictured here from the orchestra’s archives, the record of Mahler conducting his own 3rd Symphony with the RCO on Thursday 22nd & Friday 23rd October 1903. The Austrian alto Hermine Kittel (who worked extensively with Mahler) was joined by Ladies of the Toonkunstkoor, Amsterdam and the Boys’ Choir of the Association for the Improvement of Folk singing. Just wonderful!
In 1903, the symphony interestingly, was performed with a pause after the first movement, unlike the performance last week.
The Mahler Festival 2025
During the Mahler Festival 2025, all symphonies and songs by Gustav Mahler will be performed in ten days (9 to 18 May 2025) in the Large and Small Hall of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The symphonies are performed in order: from number 1 to number 10. The festival – in the Great Hall – is a unique chronological journey through the life and symphonic work of Mahler. Performed by several world-famous orchestras and conductors. Mahler’s entire intimate song repertoire can be heard in the Recital Hall.
MahlerFestival.nl
This concert was reviewed at The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on Thursday 14th September, 2023
Click on the link below to read my review for Bachtrack
Read more from Clare
Makela’s Concertgebouw Mahler Marks the dawn of a new era in Amsterdam
At the Concertgebouw, it’s all about Lang Lang
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