Mahler and America in Viena -

On the 14th of May the Konzertaus Festival dedicated to Gustav Mahler takes place in Vienna as part of the XXXV Music Festival that will include nearly 60 concerts under the motto “Mahler and America” to celebrate the Mahler Year.

For the opening act the interpretation of Mahler´s symphony will be interpreted by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. At the reception there will be a an interesting symposium about the live, work, influence of his music and death of Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler was born in Bohemia in 1860. He was a composer and the most recognized orchestra director at the end of the XIX century and beginning of the XX century. He wrote 10 symphonies even thou the last one was mere sketches impregnated with sounds of folk music he used to enjoy listening to. Mahler was a reformer of classical music which lead him to compose very interesting pieces based on poems by Fiedrich Rucket like “The Boy with Magical Horn” or “The Song of the Dead Boys”. He died in Vienna in 1911.

Out of these almost 60 concerts of international music, the organization highlights the performance of Ian Bostridge and Florian Boesch as well as the acclaimed Music banda Franui with its iconoclastic presentation of Mahler´s earlier compositions, so strongly admired among modern classic music lovers.

Important string quartets have been invited to participate, among others that can be heard we find The Pacifica Quartet, Hagen Quartet, Belcea and Mosïques along with front line guests such as Isabel Charisius, Pierre Laurent Aymará and Mihaela Urselesas. There will also be piano and violin concerts with interesting interpretations of Mahler´s works

The Stars & Stripes section is one of the most awaited moments for the jazz enthusiasts. This space gathers the best American musicians such as piano player Brad Mehldau and the vibraphone player and composer Stefon Harris

The Balkans are also present with the popular north eastern Romanian band Fanfare Ciocarlia (Lark Fanfare) that started as a wedding and baptism band until their manager discovered them and turned them into an international act. Their sound is characteristic of Turkish and Austrian Military bands that include trumpets, trombones, baritones, tenors, strings, tubas, saxophones, bass drums and percussion. Their songs are sang in Romane, the language of the gypsies. It is worthwhile to mention the bands followers, devoted fans that dance frantically non-stop to the rhythm of their music

Serbia will participate with the best band of the same area Blakan Bass. Their music typical of the Balkan zone incorporates the sounds of Macedonia and Bulgaria that Emir Kusturica made so popular in his movies. This band started out like many others in their home counties playing at festivals and fairs, but nowadays by appearing in films, it has given them an opportunity to internationalize their traditional folk sounds laced with wind instruments and percussion that make them so unique

More information: http://m.wien.info/es/music-stage-shows/classic/music-festival-konzerthaus