For more information on any of the concerts in the Birmingham Mahler Cycle, click on the date; to go straight to our online box office, click ‘book now’.
Thursday 16 September 2010, 7.30pm
& Saturday 18 September 2010, 8pm
Andris Nelsons conducts Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons – conductor
Marina Shaguch – soprano • Erin Wall – soprano • Carolyn Sampson – soprano • Katarina Karnéus – mezzo
Mihoko Fujimura – mezzo • Sergei Semishkur – tenor • Christopher Maltman – baritone • Matthew Best – bass
CBSO Chorus, Youth Chorus & Children’s Chorus, Hallé Choir
Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand) – 85′
Wednesday 13 October 2010, 7.30pm
& Saturday 16 October 2010, 7pm
Vassily Sinaisky conducts Symphony No. 3
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Vassily Sinaisky – conductor
Susan Bickley – mezzo • Ladies of the CBSO Chorus • CBSO Youth Chorus
Mahler: Symphony No. 3 – 92′
Sunday 31 October 2010, 7pm
Vassily Sinaisky conducts Rückert Lieder
CBSO Youth Orchestra
Vassily Sinaisky – conductor
Katarina Karnéus – mezzo
Wagner: Tannhäuser – Overture – 14′
Mahler: Rückert Lieder – 18′
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 (The Year 1905) – 65′
Tuesday 23 November 2010, 7.30pm
& Wednesday 24 November 2010, 2.15pm
Andris Nelsons conducts Symphony No. 5
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons – conductor
Simon Halsey – conductor*
CBSO Youth Chorus & CBSO Children’s Chorus*
Laurence Jackson & Zoë Beyers – violin†
Weir: Storm* – 20′
Bach: Concerto for in D minor for two violins†
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 – 72′
Thursday 2 December 2010, 7.30pm
Vladimir Jurowski conducts Symphony No. 4
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski – conductor
Steven Osborne – piano
Christine Schäfer – soprano
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 – 32′
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 – 54′
Wednesday 2 February 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Andris Nelsons conducts Symphony No. 9
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons – conductor
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Ulrich Heinen – cello
Turnage: Kai – 18′
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 – 87′
Thursday 3 February 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Tuned In: Mahler Symphony No. 9
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons – conductor
Stephen Johnson – presenter
Introduction to Mahler’s 9th Symphony, with live orchestral illustrations – 30′
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 – 87′
Saturday 5 February 2011, 2.30pm-5pm at CBSO Centre (book now)
Mahler Discovery Day
Stephen Johnson – presenter
Saturday 5 February 2011, 7.30pm at Town Hall, Birmingham (booking opens soon)
Uri Caine meets Mahler
Thursday 10 February 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Kindertotenlieder
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Karl-Heinz Steffens – conductor
Christianne Stotijn – mezzo
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) – 22′
Mahler: Kindertotenlieder – 23′
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 – 38′
Wednesday 23 February 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Sakari Oramo conducts Symphony No. 10 (completed by Deryck Cooke)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo – conductor
Saturday 19 March 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Antonio Pappano conducts Symphony No. 1
Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome
Antonio Pappano – conductor
Boris Berezovsky – piano
Verdi: Aida – Sinfonia – 12′
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 – 20′
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 – 53′
Friday 25 March 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Valery Gergiev conducts Symphony No. 7
London Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev – conductor
Mahler: Symphony No. 7 – 78′
Tuesday 29 March 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Jac van Steen conducts Symphony No. 6
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Jac van Steen – conductor
Mahler: Symphony No. 6 – 85′
Wednesday 18 May 2011, 7.30pm (book now)
Sakari Oramo conducts Symphony No. 2
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo – conductor
Jane Irwin – soprano
Renata Pokupić – mezzo
CBSO Chorus
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection)
Sunday 12 June 2011, 7pm (book now)
Sir Simon Rattle conducts Das Lied von der Erde
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle – conductor
Magdalena Kožená – mezzo
Michael Schade – tenor
Messiaen: Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum – 26′
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde – 59′
Welcome to My Mahler!
Over 2010/11, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Birmingham International Season present Birmingham's first ever Mahler cycle - marking the 100th anniversary of Mahler's death, and 150 years since his birth. The Birmingham Mahler Cycle features great orchestras and great conductors - and of course, some of the most incredible music ever written.
Mahler's music is unrivalled in the powerful emotional reactions it inspires. So, as we go on an exhilarating journey through this mind-blowing musical world, we want to hear your thoughts, feelings and reactions. Whether he moves you to tears, sends a shiver down your spine, or leaves you with a deep sense of peace, your response is sure to be as individual as you are - your Mahler.
My Mahler 
I would just like to give hearfelt thanks to everyone who took part in the performance of Mahlers 8th Symphony last night (18th Sep). I was in the middle of the second row and had the sensation of actually being in the orchestra as I was surrounded on all sides by stunning music, beautifully played. At times I was pinned into my seat – quite mesmerised. Mahlers music has a way of raising the qualities of life to dizzying heights – as signified by the directions of Andris Nelsons during the very last few bars.