Heaven and Earth
Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra
Juan Bautista Comes Children's Choir
Orfeó Universitari de València
Catriona Morison, mezzo-soprano
Adam Fischer, conductor
Mahler — Symphony No. 3
Individual tickets go on sale from 30 July 2026.
Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra
The Düsseldorfer Symphoniker performs primarily at the Tonhalle concert hall and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, as well as on international tours aimed at promoting music and culture—contributing significantly to Düsseldorf’s reputation as a renowned cultural city.
In the 18th century, composers such as Handel and Corelli worked at the “Düsseldorfer Hofkapelle” court ensemble until its dissolution. In 1818, the founding of the municipal music association gave rise to an orchestral tradition in Düsseldorf, attracting eminent musicians including Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. However, it was not until 1864 that the Düsseldorf City Orchestra was formally established—making it one of Germany’s oldest orchestras.
Over time, it evolved into one of the country’s leading and largest orchestras under the baton of distinguished conductors such as Heinrich Hollreiser, Eugen Szenkar, Jean Martinon, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Henryk Czyż, Willem van Otterloo, Bernhard Klee, David Shallon, Salvador Mas Conde, John Fiore, and Andrey Boreyko.
Maestro Adam Fischer has served as Chief Conductor since 2015.
In 2011, the orchestra toured Spain; in 2012, it participated in the “Beethoven Easter Festival” in Poland and performed in Moscow.
In 2014, its musicians made their debut at Vienna’s Musikverein; in May 2015, they embarked on a nine-concert tour of Tokyo.
In 2017 and 2018, the orchestra was invited to perform in Arnhem (Netherlands) and Moscow, as well as at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. In 2018 and 2019, it performed in Budapest, followed by a successful five-concert tour of Spain.
Two Mahler symphony recordings conducted by Adam Fischer won prestigious awards in 2019: Symphony No. 1 received the BBC Music Magazine Award, and Symphony No. 3 earned the Opus Klassik Prize.
Adam Fischer, conductor
Born in Budapest, Fischer studied conducting and composition in Vienna with Hans Swarowsky. He shared first prize at the 1973 Cantelli Conducting Competition in Milan, then held posts at the Graz, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg opera houses—serving as General Music Director in Freiburg. His collaboration with the Vienna State Opera began the same year.
From 1987 to 1992, Fischer was Music Director of the Kassel Opera. In July 1989, he founded and led the first Gustav Mahler Festival in Kassel—as Artistic Director and co-founder—creating a new orchestra and securing major support from the German government. The festival continues to thrive today.
He regularly conducts productions at the Zurich Opera with international stars including Thomas Hampson, Edita Gruberova, and Cecilia Bartoli. Recent seasons featured Haydn’s *L’anima del filosofo*, Rossini’s *La Cenerentola*, Cimarosa’s *Il matrimonio segreto*, and a revival of his highly acclaimed *Linda di Chamounix* (with Gruberova), filmed for television.
In January 1997, Fischer brought the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra to Athens for a full production of Verdi’s *Macbeth*. He has conducted many leading international orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and Bamberg Symphony.
He also maintains a close artistic partnership with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. His first Japanese tour took place in 1984—and he has returned regularly ever since. Fischer debuted with both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1984, and that same year toured the United States with the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra.
In 1987, Adam Fischer founded the Haydn Austro-Hungarian Festival and Orchestra in Eisenstadt, Austria—where he currently serves as Music Director. The festival is now internationally established and attracts top orchestras, ensembles, and soloists from around the world.
With the Haydn Austro-Hungarian Orchestra, Fischer is currently recording the complete Haydn symphonies for Nimbus. He has also recorded for CBS, EMI, Hungaroton, and Delta. His BBC film of Bartók’s *Bluebeard’s Castle*, featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra, won the 1989 Premio Italia, the Royal Philharmonic Society Award, and the Charles Heidsieck Award for BBC Radio/TV/Video.