Concertgebouw Orchestra to perform Mahler, Debussy and Ravel under the direction of Klaus Mäkelä
Concerts in Amsterdam and on tour form the first of six programmes with artistic partner Klaus Mäkelä
In the second half of September, Klaus Mäkelä will lead the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Mahler's Symphony No. 3 and in a programme of works by Debussy and Ravel, with Yuja Wang as soloist in both of Ravel's piano concertos. These are the first two of six different concert programmes the orchestra will present in the 2023/2024 season with its artistic partner and future chief conductor. After the concerts in Amsterdam, the orchestra, Mäkelä and Wang will perform in Bucharest and Dortmund.
Mahler, Debussy and Ravel in Amsterdam
On 14, 15 and 17 September, the Concertgebouw Orchestra will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 at The Concertgebouw, the concerts featuring mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston, the women's chorus of Laurens Symfonisch and the Netherlands National Children’s Choir.
On 20 and 21 september, Klaus Mäkelä will conduct the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand and Piano Concerto In G, featuring pianist Yuja Wang. Ravel’s concertos will be bookended by Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and La mer.
Concerts in Bucharest and Dortmund
The Concertgebouw Orchestra will then be giving two concerts at the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest. On 23 September, Mäkelä will be conducting Debussy and Ravel. On the 24th, Enescu's Concert Overture in A Major will be followed by Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 featuring Johnston, the Romanian Radio Academic Choir and the Romanian Radio Children's Choir.
On Tuesday, 26 September, the orchestra will travel to Dortmund with Mäkelä and Wang for a performance at the Konzerthaus.
Klaus Mäkelä later during the season
In December, Mäkelä will return to the Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducting works by Beethoven, Felix Mendelssohn and Fanny Hensel, née Mendelssohn. In January 2024 he will conduct works by Tawfiq, Falla and Mussorgsky in two concerts, including the orchestra's festive Annual Gala on Friday, 12 January. In February, Mäkelä will lead the orchestra in works by Mozart, Mahler, Larcher and Jolas. In May, the Finn will conduct Bruckner's Fifth Symphony in Amsterdam and both Bruckner's Fifth and Mahler's Third Symphony in other major European concert halls.
Mahler Festival in 2025
In May 2025, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and artistic partner Klaus Mäkelä will open the Mahler Festival in The Concertgebouw with Mahler's First Symphony.