Vasily Petrenko: Mahler x Bernstein at the Royal Albert Hall Hospitality

Vasily Petrenko: Mahler x Bernstein Hospitality

Tuesday 21 October 2025

If silence had a sound, what would you hear? Maybe something like the massive stillness that opens Mahler’s First Symphony. A magical spring dawn, or the creation of life itself? It’s the starting point for a young artist’s journey through tragedy and triumph – a voyage through life and death, birdsong and fanfares, funeral marches and Viennese waltzes.

Mahler said that ‘the symphony should be like the world – it must embrace everything’, and no recording does the First Symphony justice: it’s one of those pieces that you simply have to experience live.

First, though, a majestic interlude from Puccini sets the scene for Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. Raising the roof with a shout of joy, this setting of three Hebrew psalms is both affirming and exhilarating – a timeless plea for peace and unity.

With the generous support of Aline Foriel-Destezet.

Our hospitality packages at the Royal Albert Hall make every concert an unforgettable experience. Please get in touch with our team of experts to find out more about the different ways you can experience this event.