In Mahler鈥檚 Ninth Symphony the composer 鈥� who would not live to hear its premiere 鈥� bid 鈥榝arewell to all whom he loved鈥�. The words 鈥楲eb鈥� wohl!鈥� (鈥榝arewell鈥�) are written onto the score itself, transformed into a theme that becomes the heartbeat of the whole work. It鈥檚 a poignant choice for Sir Simon Rattle鈥檚 final UK performance as Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra. Death and life collide in a symphony haunted by loss but urgently clinging to dance and song. The finale, however, looks beyond, closing with a vision of distant hills where the sun is shining. Opening the Prom is Poulenc鈥檚 choral masterpiece Figure humaine, a hymn to freedom from occupied France, performed by the 成人快手 Singers.

Broadcast on 成人快手 TV

Image: Sir Simon Rattle 漏 Oliver Helbig