Heaven and Earth
Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra
Children's Choir Juan Bautista Comes
Orfeó Universitari de València
Catriona Morison, mezzo-soprano
Adam Fischer, conductor
Mahler — Symphony No. 3
Individual ticket sales begin on 30 July 2026.
Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra
The Düsseldorfer Symphoniker performs primarily at the Tonhalle concert hall and Deutsche Oper am Rhein, as well as touring internationally to promote music and culture. This has earned Düsseldorf a reputation as a distinguished 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 culture in Düsseldorf, attracting renowned musicians including Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. However, the city’s official orchestra was not established until 1864—making it one of Germany’s oldest orchestras.
Over time, it grew into one of the nation’s leading and largest symphonic ensembles under legendary 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.
Since 2015, Adam Fischer has served as its chief conductor.
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, followed by a nine-concert tour in Tokyo in May 2015.
In 2017 and 2018, the orchestra was invited to Arnhem (Netherlands) and Moscow, as well as to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. In 2018 and 2019, it performed in Budapest and undertook a successful five-concert tour across Spain.
Two recordings of Mahler symphonies conducted by Adam Fischer won major international awards in 2019: the First Symphony received the BBC Music Magazine Award, and the Third Symphony earned the Opus Klassik award.
Adam Fischer, conductor
Born in Budapest, Fischer studied conducting and composition in Vienna with Hans Swarowsky. In 1973, he shared first prize at the Cantelli Competition in Milan. He subsequently held posts at the Graz, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg opera houses, where he served as Generalmusikdirektor. His collaboration with the Vienna State Opera also began that 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—creating a new orchestra and securing significant support from the German government. The festival continues to flourish today.
He regularly conducts productions at the Zurich Opera with 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 highly acclaimed production of Donizetti’s *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.
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 since returned regularly. He debuted with both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and 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 Festival and Austro-Hungarian Haydn 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 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 on 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/Video.