Mahler’s Sixth Symphony is a spectacle. The percussionist will flex their muscles, raise a massive hammer in the air, and blow it down with full force inside the concert hall! It’s a climactic point in the symphony that explores philosophical themes of fate and existential angst. Mahler composed it before World War I, and it conjures the sounds of military marches and pastoral alpine scenes alike. Aside from the hammer blow, this explosive work is also known for its ‘Alma’ theme named after the composer’s wife.

We bring the concert into the 21st Century with the world premiere of James Henry’s new composition. It’s a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra commission, which Henry wrote as our Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence. You’ll come away from the event with a story to tell about the new music you heard, and the cathartic experience you felt while listening.