The Rudolfinum

Gustav Mahler and his wife Alma attended the Prague premiere of the Second Symphony in 1903.

“Today’s concert conducted by Oskar Nedbal will take place a 7 p.m. at the Rudolfinum in the presence of the music director of the Court Opera in Vienna, Gustav Mahler, whose Second Symphony in C minor is the main number on the programme. For the concert, all of the seats are sold out apart from a few seats in the organ gallery costing 3 K. Probably only standing room tickets at 2 K and 1.20 K per person will still be available by evening at the box office”, read the announcement in the newspaper Národní listy for the 18 December 1903 Prague premiere of Mahler’s Second Symphony.

That must have been agony for listener’s poor legs! However, according to a review printed at the time, the concert of the Czech Philharmonic joined by musicians of the New German Theatre, the choir Hlahol, and the soloists Gabriela Horvátová and Božena Durasová was worth it:

“This work of spiritual depth, grandness of ideas, conceptual daring, and often overwhelming power of expression elevates and amazes the public. There is little musical poetry wherein the quantity of instrumental and vocal resources is so modest relative to the achieved effect; everything is artistically justified and organically necessary.”

Can you hear that?

Play on YouTube
Symphony No. 2, First Movement

Play on Spotify
Symphony No. 2, First Movement

Gustav and Alma Mahler also attended the concert at the time, so you can ask them about their impressions of the Second Symphony, known as the “Resurrection.” They’ll be waiting for you on the steps of the Rudolfinum.

In the Rudolfinum shop just above, you can purchase the complete Mahler symphonies recorded by the Czech Philharmonic with its Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov, right here in this building. If you find yourself craving a little “resurrection” by way of caffeine after your walk, be sure to stop by the tenth bonus location… a small gift awaits you there!