Helmut Lachenmann in conversation with Catherine Milliken (13 min.)

The conclusion of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony is no jubilant finale – but resolution, even annihilation, become music. And so the audience at first remained silent when the Berliner Philharmoniker and Simon Rattle performed the work in November 2011. Only gradually did the roaring applause rise in response to this performance, which brought to a close the cycle of Mahler’s complete symphonies under Rattle’s direction which began in 2010. The concert opened with a work by Helmut Lachenmann – the first time one of his works has been included in a Berliner Philharmoniker concert. You can find out more background information about this concert in our interval talk with Helmut Lachenmann and Catherine Milliken.