6 Philharmonisches Konzert by Various, From (2023/2023), Conductor Alexander Merzyn, Staatstheater Cottbus, Cottbus, Germany

A love triangle in Vienna shortly before the turn of the century: the composer Alexander Zemlinsky fell madly in love with his pupil Alma Schindler. She also lets him court her for a while before marrying the court opera star Gustav Mahler instead of the “little, ugly” man. What sounds like a shallow tabloid actually happened - and was certainly a source of artistic inspiration. The fact that the lady also composed – and well at that – is what is least known. In any case, Alma's orchestral songs testify to a high level of musical education and talent, which Zemlinsky was really enthusiastic about. "SAREMA or the Rose of the Caucasus" is the title of his debut opera, which was enthusiastically celebrated when it premiered in Munich in 1897. Today almost only the overture is played, but it already paints an impressive portrait of the self-confident freedom fighter who gave the title. Mahler's SYMPHONY NO. 5 ushered in the renaissance of his music from 1971 onwards. Luchino Visconti chose it as the soundtrack for the film adaptation of the Thomas Mann novella "Death in Venice", in which he paid tribute to the composer as a tragic artist. Unhappy love leads the melancholic hero to his death. And Mahler himself was not to be permanently happy with his beloved Alma...