Do you Love Mahler? by Mahler, Ó (2022/2022), Seoltóir Rebecca Tong, Musikverein, Vienna, Austria

Three editions of «Explained. Experienced!» with Albert Hosp, all featuring young conductors and opening with music by Gustav Mahler: a fitting choice, because Rebecca Tong, an Indonesian-born conductor of Chinese heritage, won the inaugural «La Maestra» International Competition for Women Conductors 2020 with an emphasis on Mahler. The composer’s first symphony was born from a strongly programmatic context, which the composer nonetheless went on to place into the sphere of absolute music. It takes sounds of nature and folk songs, military marches, fanfares and ribald dance melodies, and brings them into the respectable concert hall, where they take their rightful place alongside venerable high art: compelling new discoveries are guaranteed!