Mahler in Amsterdam, 17 May 2025

Our second-last full day on this Hayllar Music Tours visit to Amsterdam started with a quiet morning. This afternoon we had another chance to ride on the city's beautiful canals, ending up at the Rembrandt House.

We had a guided tour of this famous building before returning on the canals to our hotel. We couldn't have had better weather for such an excursion.

Tonight at the Concertgebouw we entered the world of Mahler's last three symphonies (the ninth, Das Lied von der Erde, and the unfinished tenth), none of which the composer heard performed. It's a very special and powerful part of the repertoire.

The ninth symphony was performed tonight by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of their chief conductor, Kirill Petrenko.

I find it hard to comprehend that I actually experienced what we just experienced. This orchestra, this conductor, this hall, this music. Mahler's ninth is a work I adore and hearing it played with such...[I'm going to say it]...perfection is one of life's great privileges.

I'm just going to sit here in my hotel room with my peppermint tea and try to process it all.

First posted on Facebook