In one of his most luminous song cycles, Gustav Mahler drew inspiration from the poetry of Friedrich Rückert, a writer whose work embraced a style characteristic of Eastern poetry, which he often translated. Mahler found himself entranced by Rückert’s verses and followed their lyricism and elegance in his composition. One of the stars of the night, the Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Zhidkova, a regular on the stage of the Bayreuth Festival, was one of the singers invited by Claudio Abbado for the three nights of his farewell to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester 
Jonathan Nott Conductor
Elena Zhidkova Mezzo-Soprano

Alban Berg
Three Pieces for Orchestra, op. 6

Gustav Mahler
Rückert-Lieder

Dmitri Chostakovitch
Symphony No. 15, in A major, op. 141