Joana Mallwitz conducts Prokofiev, Mahler and Weill

In 2023, conductor Joana Mallwitz took the helm of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, becoming the first woman to lead a major orchestra in the German capital. For her inaugural concert with this exceptional ensemble, the conductor leads the orchestra through three landmark symphonies. On the program: Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1, “Classical”, which combines a structure inherited from the great masters of the Classical period with the Russian composer’s distinctive touch. This is followed by Kurt Weill’s Symphony No. 1, an early work rooted in the music of Mahler, Schoenberg, and Strauss. Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan”, closes the concert: though scorned by his contemporaries, it nevertheless marks the beginning of a truly exceptional symphonic collection. The third movement, which blends a minor-key version of the famous “Frère Jacques” melody with klezmer sounds, remains one of the most memorable passages in the composer’s oeuvre.

Photo © Simon Pauly