Lorenzo Viotti, principal guest conductor of the Netherlands Philharmonic, returns with Mahler's Seventh Symphony 'Song of the Night'. A remarkable journey from darkness to light, ending with a triumphant finale featuring brass and percussion. For Mahler, the Netherlands Philharmonic and Viotti are the perfect choice.
Lorenzo Viotti conducts Mahler 7 with the Netherlands Philharmonic
Lorenzo and Gustav
This is the fifth Mahler symphony that Viotti has performed with the orchestra. He also opened the Mahler Festival 2025 with the orchestra, which was broadcast live on television. Previous performances were an unparalleled success for sold-out venues. The NRC reviewer got goose bumps from Mahler's Second. And Trouw called this same Second “a performance to frame”.
Mahler's Seventh Symphony
Right at the opening of the Seventh Symphony , Gustav Mahler wrote a striking solo for an unusual instrument: the sonorous tenor horn, which echoes the primal power of nature. In addition, the characteristic cowbells from his Sixth Symphony return, and in the fourth movement, Mahler added a guitar and a mandolin to the orchestra. With a contrasting opening movement, two mysterious nocturnal walks, a ghostly scherzo and a heroic final movement with lots of brass and percussion, the remarkable Viennese composer once again succeeded in creating a completely unique world.
This programme can be heard on 7 May at De Doelen Rotterdam, on 8 and 10 May at the Concertgebouw and on 9 May at TivoliVredenburg Utrecht.
Spotify playlist
Have a listen to the programme in advance via this Spotify playlist:
