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© Gran Teatre del Liceu
Univers Mahler IV
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January 2025 | ||||||
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Symphonic Cycle of the Gran Teatre del Liceu Orchestra
"The Sixth is his most personal work and, moreover, prophetic."
Alma Mahler
"With these words, Alma, Gustav Mahler's wife, defined the apocalyptic sonic language of this symphony.
A world in itself that foreshadows and anticipates the composer's personal catastrophes: the diagnosis of an incurable heart disease, the death of his daughter Maria at the age of four, the death of his mother-in-law at his daughter's funeral, professional setbacks like the forced resignation from the Vienna Opera...
Known as the "Tragic Symphony," it introduces the audience to the composer's inner world, revealing the most pronounced emotional highs and lows that run through the entire score.
The percussion frames in many ways the emotional extremes Mahler intended to capture: first, with echoes of mountain animals, evoking a nostalgic image of rural life, and then with the famous hammer blows. Each of the three shattering blows of the fatal hammer represents a fatality that drowns out happy memories.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu, immersed in the Univers Mahler cycle, a fascinating journey to enjoy Gustav Mahler's complete symphonies conducted by Josep Pons, the resident conductor of the institution's stable formations, presents this new episode of strong beauty and self-reference, with this pessimistic representation of man's desperate struggle with his own destiny, perhaps even with death.
Written between 1903 and 1904, the Sixth occupies a particular place in his catalog. With a tragic and unexpected conclusion, it contrasts greatly with the happy stage of his life when he married Alma in 1902 and his second daughter, Anna, was born during the composition.
An incredible score that narrates the misfortunes of a man who becomes small in the face of adversity greater than himself and, despite the fatalities, results in such an emotionally human journey that it ends up reaffirming life itself.
Program and cast
Approximate Duration: 1h 20min
Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu
Conductor: Josep Pons
Program:
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 6 in A minor
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Barcelona's opera house, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, was founded on the Rambla in 1847 and has continued over the years to fulfil its role as a culture and arts centre and one of the symbols of the city.
Today it is publicly-owned (by the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council and the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte) and administered by the Fundació del Gran Teatre del Liceu which, in addition to the aforementioned bodies, incorporates the Patronage Council and the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu (the old society of owners).
Origins: From 1837 to 1847
The Liceu evolved out of the Sociedad Dramática de Aficionados (Society of theatre-lovers) set up in 1837 at the instigation of Manuel Gibert in the former convent of Montsió by members of the National Militia, an organization of armed citizens with liberal leanings.
Barcelona's economy and population were growing fast at the time and the city needed a music conservatory. This led to the conversion of the Sociedad Dramática into the Liceo Filármonico Dramático Barcelonés de S.M. la Reina Isabel II (Barcelona Dramatic and Philharmonic Lyceum of HM Queen Isabel II). In addition to its theatrical activities, the new organization cultivated Italian-style singing and music.
The building on the Rambla
The original building was solemnly opened on 4 April 1847. The plans had been drawn up by Miquel Garriga i Roca, subsequently assisted by Josep Oriol Mestres. The project was funded by selling shares, which meant that many of the boxes and seats were to be privately owned. The shareholders formed the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu, known as the “Societat de Propietaris” (Society of Owners), which was in sole charge of running the Gran Teatre del Liceu from 1855 onwards, after it was legally separated from the Conservatori del Gran Teatre del Liceu.
The theatre was operated by impresarios who were given a concession to stage a specific number of productions in exchange for the proceeds from the sale of tickets not reserved for the Societat itself. This system was to endure until 1980.
The creation of the Consortium
By the last quarter of the 20th century this management system was no longer viable. In 1980, to avert the danger of the disappearance of an institution of such worldwide cultural renown, the Generalitat Catalonia's first government in modern times – set up a consortium, the Consorci del Gran Teatre del Liceu, which also incorporated Barcelona City Council and the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu. Barcelona Provincial Council joined the Consortium in 1985, followed by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 1986. From then on the Consortium took over operation of the theatre.
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