As a grand finale, the 2026 Martha Argerich Festival Hamburg at the Laeiszhalle will unfold a fascinating interplay of musical forces: »Gravitational Fields« brings together sonic universes that inspire, mirror, and energize one another. The program opens with the floating, ethereal Adagietto from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5—a moment of pure intimacy. Srul Irvin Glick’s »The Klezmer’s Wedding« follows, a colorful celebration straddling tradition and virtuosity, before everything culminates in Ludwig van Beethoven after the first intermission: Martha Argerich and Maxim Vengerov ignite a fireworks display of drama and depth with the legendary »Kreutzer Sonata« and the lyrical G major Sonata.
The final pull is generated by »Gravitations: Mahler« 2.0: In a jazz-inspired exploration of Gustav Mahler’s »Das Lied von der Erde,« Haggai Cohen-Milo and his band, under the title »The Song Of People,« trace the poetic roots of the symphonic song cycle back to ancient China. Mahler’s soundscape enters into a dialogue with Chinese Kunqu opera, improvisation, jazz harmonies, rhythmic pulse, and spoken word. The vocal tradition of Chinese opera opens another path back to the ancient poems that originally inspired Mahler. Together with Kunqu master Zhang Jun, a cross-genre experience emerges that blends music, voice, and performance. A festival finale brimming with energy, emotion, and artistic radiance.
PERFORMERS
Symphoniker Hamburg orchestra
Zhang Jun actor, vocals
Maxim Vengerov violin
Michael Guttman violin
Haggai Cohen-Milo double bass
Arto Mäkelä guitar
Mao Yulong flute
Pierre Génisson clarinet
Akane Sakai piano
Martha Argerich piano
& Band
PROGRAM
»Gravitationsfelder«
Violinsonaten von Ludwig van Beethoven sowie Werke von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart und Jazz inspiriert von Gustav Mahler
Srul Irving Glick
The Klezmer's Wedding
Gustav Mahler
Adagietto
Ludwig van Beethoven
Two sonatas for violin and piano
- Interval -
Haggai Cohen-Milo
Gravitations: Mahler – The Song of People
