Mahler's 1st
Gulbenkian Orchestra
Event Slider
Date
- 20:00 / Cancelled 20:00 / Sold out Thursday, 20:00
- 19:00 / Cancelled 19:00 / Sold out Friday, 19:00
Location
Grand Auditorium Calouste Gulbenkian FoundationPricing
25% – Under 30
10% – Over 65
Cartão Gulbenkian:
50% – Under 30
15% – Over 65
- Conductor
- Trumpet
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Gulbenkian Orchestra
In 1962, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation decided to establish a permanent orchestral ensemble. Originally with only twelve musicians (strings and continuo) it was named “Orquestra de Câmara Gulbenkian”. This collective was successively enlarged and today the “Orquestra Gulbenkian” (the name it has adopted since 1971) has a permanent body of sixty instrumentalists, a number that can be expanded depending on the repertoire.
This structure allows the Gulbenkian Orchestra to interpret works from the Baroque and Classical periods, a significant part of 19th century orchestral literature and much of the music of the 20th century, including works belonging to the current repertoire of the traditional symphonic orchestras. In each season, the orchestra performs on a regular series of concerts at the Gulbenkian Grand Auditorium in Lisbon, where it has had the opportunity of working together with some of leading names of the world of music (conductors and soloists). It has also performed on numerous locations all over Portugal, in an effort to decentralize music and culture.
The orchestra has been constantly expanding its activities in the international level, performing in Europe, Asia Africa, and the Americas. In the recording field, Orquestra Gulbenkian is associated to labels as Philips, Deutsche Grammophon, Hyperion, Teldec, Erato, Adès, Nimbus, Lyrinx, Naïve and Pentatone, among others, and this activity was recognized with several international prizes.
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Susanna Mälkki
Conductor
A much sought-after artist on the international conducting circuit, Susanna Mälkki’s versatility and broad repertoire have taken her to symphony and chamber orchestras, contemporary music ensembles and opera houses around the world.
The 2016/17 season marks Mälkki’s debut year as Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra where highlights of her inaugural season will include such orchestral works as Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, Mahler’s Symphonies Nos.2 and 6, Debussy’s La Mer and Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphony.
Mälkki was recently appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, beginning in autumn 2017 and is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra. Previously she held the position of Music Director of the Ensemble intercontemporain and Artistic Director of Stavanger Symfoniorkester.
As a guest conductor at the highest level in both Europe and North America, Mälkki’s recent highlights include returns to the San Francisco and Chicago Symphony Orchestras (both of which she returns to in summer 2017), New World Symphony, Bayerischer Rundfunk, London Sinfonietta and Oslo Philharmonic orchestras. She has previously worked with the Philadelphia and New York Philharmonic orchestras, BBC Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms, Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Teatro La Fenice. Notable recent debuts include the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España. In 2017 she also returns to the Swedish Radio Symphony and The Cleveland orchestras.
A renowned opera conductor, this season Mälkki makes her debut with The Metropolitan Opera conducting its premiere of Saariaho’s L’Amour de loin in a new production by Robert Lepage. She will also return to Opéra National de Paris in spring 2017 for the world premiere of Francesconi’s new opera Trompe-la-mort, having previously conducted the world premiere of a ballet by Bruno Mantovani there as well as Janáček’s The Makropolous Case in 2013. Previous opera highlights include Der Rosenkavalier and Le nozze di Figaro with the Finnish National, her debut at Staatsoper Hamburg conducting a revival of Jenůfa and in 2011 she became the first woman to conduct a production at Teatro alla Scala, Milan – she later returned in 2014.
A former student at the Sibelius Academy, Mälkki studied with Jorma Panula and Leif Segerstam. Prior to her conducting studies, she had a successful career as a cellist and from 1995 to 1998 was one of the principals of the Gothenburg Symphony. In June 2010 she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London and she is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. In 2011, Mälkki was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland, one of Finland’s highest honours, and in January 2016 was made a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur in France. In October 2016 she was named Musical America’s 2017 Conductor of the Year.
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Verneri Pohjola
Trumpet
Verneri Pohjola, a Finnish trumpeter and composer, is one of the most celebrated and acclaimed Jazz artists in Europe. He possesses a commanding and unique voice that showcases both warmth and vibrancy in his playing. His writing is bold and creative, with a unique ability to write immersive and powerful melodies that highlight his individuality and progressive style. With a string of successful releases and critical acclaim, his talent has not gone unnoticed. In 2015, Jazzwise Magazine called his album, 'Bullhorn,' "one of the finest albums of recent times" and hailed him as a "fully-fledged star", shedding his 'star-in-the-making' mantle. He has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Nordic Council Music Prize nomination in 2021, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the Nordic music scene. In 2017, Verneri was awarded Finland's highest recognition for a jazz musician, the Yrjö Award, for his exceptional musicianship and contribution to the jazz genre. This award is a testament to Verneri's dedication to his craft and his passion for creating innovative and meaningful music. Verneri's Bullhorn record was a critical and commercial success, earning him the Emma Award for the best jazz album of the year in 2015. This album showcases Verneri's virtuosity as a trumpeter and his ability to seamlessly blend various genres and musical influences. Born into a musical dynasty, Verneri was destined for a career in music. His grandfather and father's cousin were both active in music, while his father, Pekka Pohjola, achieved international fame in the 1970s. Verneri first came to prominence as leader of Ilmiliekki Quartet, a band that won numerous accolades, including the prestigious Teosto Award. Verneri's distinctive tone is deeply affecting and marked by purity and lyricism. His melodic improvisation is matched by personal compositions that avoid any clichéd notions of Nordic jazz. He is a progressive artist with a strong grasp of popular culture and one of the most exciting and original artists of his generation. In 2020, Verneri released 'The Dead Don't Dream,' an album that showcases his individualism, creativity, and coherence. This album is a true work of art, balancing freedom and composition, expression and voice. It's a defining work for Verneri, for Finnish culture, and a statement of intent for an artist immersed in the world of European Jazz. In 2022, Verneri Pohjola formed a new quartet with renowned musicians Kit Downes on piano, Jasper Høiby on double bass, and Olavi Louhivuori on drums. The quartet's debut album ‘MONKEY MIND’, will be released on Edition Records in November 2023, serving as a testament to Verneri's versatility as a musician and his continued growth as a jazz star.
Kaija Saariaho
Gustav Mahler
Conductor Susanna Mälkki described the music of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho as “new and timeless, personal and universal, from the first moment you hear it” (New York Times). And he said that, under any circumstances, “we are always transported to another time and place”. It will therefore be a privilege to see HUSH, conducted by Mälkki and performed by trumpeter Verneri Pohjola, for whom the piece was composed. In the second part, the conductor will lead the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Mahler’s powerful Symphony No. 1, completing an unforgettable musical experience.
Sponsor Gulbenkian Music
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation reserves the right to collect and keep records of images, sounds and voice for the diffusion and preservation of the memory of its cultural and artistic activity. For further information, please contact us through the Information Request form.