Mahler's Symphony No. 3
Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra
Children's Choir Juan Bautista Comes
University Choir Orfeó Universitari de Valencia
Catriona Morison, mezzo-soprano
Adam Fischer, conductor
Gustav Mahler — Symphony No. 3
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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—helping Düsseldorf solidify its 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, with the founding of the municipal music association, an orchestral tradition emerged in Düsseldorf, attracting major musicians including Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. However, the official city orchestra was not established until 1864—making it one of Germany’s oldest orchestras.
Over time, it evolved into one of the country’s leading and largest symphonic ensembles under legendary 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 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) and Moscow, as well as to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. In 2018–2019, it performed in Budapest and completed a successful five-concert tour of Spain.
Two recordings of Mahler symphonies 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 Award.
ADAM FISCHER, CONDUCTOR
Born in Budapest, Fischer later studied conducting and composition in Vienna with Hans Swarowsky. He shared first prize at the 1973 Cantelli Conducting Competition in Milan, then held positions at the Graz, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg opera houses—where he served as General Music Director. His association 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 led the inaugural Gustav Mahler Festival in Kassel—as Artistic Director—and created a new festival orchestra with strong 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 televised revival of his highly acclaimed *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*.
He has conducted numerous world-class orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Danish Radio Symphony, Dresden Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and Bamberg Symphony.
He maintains a close collaboration with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. His first Japanese tour was in 1984; he has returned regularly ever since. Fischer made his debuts with the Boston Symphony and Chicago Symphony 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 globe.
With the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, Fischer is 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 and the Royal Philharmonic Society & Charles Heidsieck Award for BBC Radio/TV/Video.