Holly Choe, conductor

Siljamari Heikinheimo, director

Joonas Tikkanen, scenographer

Gustav Mahler: Symphony no. 5 in C sharp minor (arr. Klaus Simon)

Mahler’s Symphony no. 5 is known particularly for its achingly beautiful Adagietto for strings and harp, which was included in the Visconti film Death in Venice and was performed at President Kennedy’s funeral and at memorial services for 9/11. Mahler wrote the piece as a love letter to his newly wedded wife Alma, but in the context of this great Symphony it is a brief moment of tranquillity en route from the funeral march of the opening to the tumultuously optimistic finale. Lighting brings a visual aspect to this performance, conducted by Korean-American conductor Holly Choe, a rising star who has been assistant to Esa-Pekka Salonen and Paavo Järvi and who will take up the post of Conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra in 2026.

Afterparty in the foyer following the concert.

Tapiola Sinfonietta 2025-2026