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 TICKET SALES: 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. Thanks to its activity, Düsseldorf has earned a reputation as a renowned cultural city.
In the 18th century, composers such as Handel and Corelli worked at the “Düsseldorfer Hofkapell” court orchestra 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 city’s official symphony orchestra was established—making it one of Germany’s oldest orchestras.
Over time, it evolved into one of the country’s leading orchestras under the baton of distinguished conductors such as Heinrich Hollreiser, Eugen Szenkar, Jean Martinon, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Henryk Czyz, 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 Arnhem (Netherlands) and Moscow, as well as to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. In 2018–2019, it performed in Budapest and completed a successful five-concert tour across Spain.
Two recordings of Mahler symphonies conducted by Adam Fischer received prestigious awards in 2019: Symphony No. 1 won the BBC Music Award, and Symphony No. 3 received the Opus Klassik Award.
ADAM FISCHER, CONDUCTOR
Born in Budapest, he later studied conducting and composition in Vienna with Hans Swarowsky. In 1973, he jointly won First Prize at the Cantelli Conducting Competition in Milan. He subsequently held posts at the Graz, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg opera houses, where he served as General Music Director. His collaboration with the Vienna State Opera also began that same year.
From 1987 to 1992, Fischer served as Music Director of the Kassel Opera. In July 1989, he founded and conducted the first Gustav Mahler Festival in Kassel—of which he remains Artistic Director. For this festival, he assembled a new orchestra and secured substantial support from the German government. The festival continues to flourish today.
He regularly conducts opera productions at the Zurich Opera House featuring international stars such as Thomas Hampson, Edita Gruberova, and Cecilia Bartoli. Recent seasons included Haydn’s *L’anima del filosofo*, Rossini’s *La Cenerentola*, Cimarosa’s *Il matrimonio segreto*, and a televised revival of his acclaimed production of Donizetti’s *Linda di Chamounix*, starring Gruberova.
In January 1997, Fischer brought the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra to Athens for a full production of Verdi’s *Macbeth*.
Fischer 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 maintains a close artistic partnership with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. His first Japanese tour took place in 1984; he has returned regularly ever since. He 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 Austro-Hungarian Haydn Festival and Orchestra in Eisenstadt, Austria; he currently serves as its Music Director. The festival is now internationally established and attracts top orchestras, ensembles, and soloists from around the world.
With the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, Fischer is recording the complete Haydn symphonies for Nimbus Records. He has also recorded for CBS, EMI, Hungaroton, and Delta. His BBC film about Bartók’s *Bluebeard’s Castle*, performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, won the 1989 Premio Italia and the Royal Philharmonic Society / Charles Heidsieck Award for BBC Radio/TV/Videography.