“A dual creature of life and death,” is how Iannis Xenakis described humanity. His orchestral work “Aïs”, programmed here by the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin under Vladimir Jurowski uses texts from Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey” to highlight the moment when all life comes to an end. Even the love that can be heard in Béla Bartók’s First Violin Concerto remains fleeting. The concert concludes with Gustav Mahler’s Fifth Symphony.

Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

Vladimir Jurowski conductor

Georg Nigl baritone

Dirk Rothbrust drums

Vilde Frang violin