Amsterdam’s 2025 Mahler Festival has given the Berliner Philharmoniker the honour of presenting its two concluding concerts. On Saturday, 17 May, the orchestra and chief conductor Kirill Petrenko will perform Gustav Mahler’s Ninth Symphony. On Sunday, the final day of the festival, the programme features Das Lied von der Erde as well as the unfinished Tenth Symphony, conducted by Sakari Oramo. With these concerts, the festival will have presented all of Mahler’s symphonies.
It is only the even’s third iteration, despite a history reaching back 105 years. Willem Mengelberg, chief conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra and a passionate advocate of Gustav Mahler's music, founded the festival in 1920. A second edition took place in 1995 to mark the 75th anniversary of the first – with the Berliner Philharmoniker on the programme. The Covid pandemic scuppered the planned centenary events of 2020. All the more reason to celebrate 105th anniversary edition – and the fact that the Berliner Philharmoniker will perform there!
17 May 2025, Arrival and concert under Kirill Petrenko
Beautiful Amsterdam – we are already smitten! Here’s a quick look back at our first day: vivid impressions of the city, the Mahler Festival, and the warmest of welcomes. We’re thrilled to be here!
Day of the first concert
Concert on 17 May with Kirill Petrenko
18 May 2025: Second Concert with Sakari Oramo
With Das Lied von der Erde and the Adagio from Mahler’s unfinished Tenth Symphony, the Berliner Philharmoniker and conductor Sakari Oramo brought the eleven-day Mahler Festival in Amsterdam to a close. It was a joy to be part of this historic festival. Dankjewel, Amsterdam!