Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) composed his Symphony No. 6 in his early forties, during 1903/1904. This four-movement work is among his most weighty creations in terms of its content, and – together with the Seventh – is among the less frequently performed of his symphonies. The composer gave the piece no subtitle, though it is sometimes referred to as the "Tragic" symphony. The opening movement – like the first movements of several other Mahler symphonies – is a march, which is followed by a scherzo, an andante, and a substantial finale. The "Tragic" epithet becomes understandable when one considers the sombre character of the opening movement’s beginning, and the fact that the slow movement quotes the first song from the Kindertotenlieder, Nun will die Sonne so hell aufgehn. In performing this grand score, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra pays tribute to the evening’s guest artist, the conductor János Kovács, who turns 75 in 2026.

Presented by: Hungarian National Philharmonic