Heaven and Earth
Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra
Juan Bautista Comes Children's Choir
Orfeó Universitari de Valencia
Catriona Morison, mezzo-soprano
Adam Fischer, conductor
Mahler — Symphony No. 3
INDIVIDUAL TICKET SALES: From 30 July 2026.
DÜSSELDORF SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Düsseldorfer Symphoniker primarily performs at the Tonhalle concert hall and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, as well as on international tours aimed at promoting music and culture—helping establish Düsseldorf’s reputation as a renowned cultural city.
In the 18th century, composers such as Handel and Corelli worked at the “Düsseldorfer Hofkapelle” until its dissolution. In 1818, the founding of the municipal music association sparked 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 foremost symphonic ensembles under 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 Poland’s “Beethoven Easter Festival” and performed in Moscow.
In 2014, its musicians debuted 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), Moscow, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. In 2018–2019, it performed in Budapest and completed a successful five-concert tour across Spain.
Two Mahler symphony recordings conducted by Adam Fischer won prestigious awards in 2019: Symphony No. 1 received the BBC Music Award, and Symphony No. 3 earned the Opus Klassik Award.
ADAM FISCHER, CONDUCTOR
Born in Budapest, he later studied conducting and composition in Vienna with Hans Swarowsky. He shared first prize at the 1973 Cantelli Conducting Competition in Milan. Subsequently, he held posts at the Graz, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg opera houses, where he served as General Music Director. 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 conducted the first Gustav Mahler Festival in Kassel—as its founder and Artistic Director—creating a new orchestra and securing major support from the German government. The festival continues to flourish today.
He regularly conducts productions at the Zurich Opera with international artists 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 highly acclaimed *Linda di Chamounix* starring Gruberova.
In January 1997, Fischer led the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra in a full production of Verdi’s *Macbeth* in Athens. He has conducted leading orchestras worldwide—including the Vienna Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Danish Radio Symphony, 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; he has returned regularly ever since. Fischer made his debuts 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 launched the Haydn Festival and Austro-Hungarian Haydn 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 currently recording the complete Haydn symphonies for Nimbus. He has also recorded for CBS, EMI, Hungaroton, and Delta. His BBC television film of Bartók’s *Bluebeard’s Castle*, featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra, won the 1989 Italia Prize and the Royal Philharmonic Society & Charles Heidsieck Award for BBC Radio/TV/Video.