In February 2020, Myung-whun Chung led the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Mahler's Ninth Symphony : 'impressive' was the opinion of the NRC, among others, who awarded the performance the full five stars. Now the South Korean master is back with the fiery Fifth. That symphony has already appeared on the music stands of the Concertgebouw Orchestra 127 times; the first time conducted by the composer himself in 1906.
It took a while for the Amsterdam public to embrace this kaleidoscopic symphony; the great contrasts evoke extremes of emotions. "Each part has its friends and enemies," Mahler noted. Yet the Adagietto, the beating heart of the symphony, seems to have only friends. According to Willem Mengelberg, the then chief conductor who was in close contact with the composer, it was a pure declaration of love to Mahler's wife Alma. Judge for yourself, when Mahler expert Myung-whun Chung is in charge of the Fifth Symphony .
