Symphoniker Hamburg / Haggai Cohen-Milo & Band / Maxim Vengerov / Zhang Jun / Martha Argerich

»Gravitations: Mahler 2.0« creates an almost hypnotic pull: In this jazz-inspired exploration of Gustav Mahler’s »Das Lied von der Erde«, Haggai Cohen-Milo and his band, performing under the name »The Song Of People,« trace the poetic roots of the symphonic song cycle, which extend all the way back to ancient China. Mahler’s soundscape enters into a dialogue with Chinese Kunqu opera, improvisation, jazz harmonies, rhythmic pulse, and spoken word. The vocal tradition of Chinese opera opens up another path back to the ancient poems that originally inspired Mahler. Together with Kunqu master Zhang Jun, a cross-genre experience emerges that blends music, voice, and performance.

For the finale, Beethoven is then performed twice more. Martha Argerich and Maxim Vengerov ignite a fireworks display of drama and depth with the legendary »Kreutzer Sonata« and the lyrical Sonata in G major. A festival finale full of energy, emotion, and artistic radiance that impressively demonstrates how music is always in motion.