Anti-Heroes in Mainz: Experience Brahms and Schumann live in the Grand Hall
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Between pastoral warmth and dark landscapes of the soul
The 4th Symphony Concert of the 2026/27 season takes place on December 11, 2026, at the Grand Hall of the State Theater Mainz, uniting two masterpieces of German Romanticism: Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73, and Robert Schumann’s dramatic poem Manfred, Op. 115. Under the title Anti-Heroes, a concert evening is created that blends lyrical richness, inner abysses, and grand stage performance.
Brahms: Landscapes of Light and Sound
Johannes Brahms’ Second Symphony is considered one of the brightest and most pastoral works of his symphonic oeuvre. The idyllic atmosphere of Pörtschach on Lake Wörthersee influenced the composition, which reveals its special effect through warm woodwind colors, singable string melodies, and an artfully balanced orchestration. Gabriel Venzago conducts the Philharmonic State Orchestra Mainz through four movements full of lyrical warmth, complex rhythms, and thematic sophistication.
Schumann: The Restless Anti-Hero
Robert Schumann’s Manfred, based on Lord Byron's poem of the same name, opens the evening into a distinctly darker sound world. Guilt, loneliness, inner demons, and the search for redemption are reflected in striking motifs, dramatic intensifications, and compelling orchestral colors. The well-known overture condenses Schumann’s romantic language into an emotional pull, while the narrator, solo voices, and choir expand the literary dimension of the work.
Strong Cast for an Extraordinary Concert Experience
Renowned actor Udo Wachtveitl will be the narrator. Maren Schwier takes the soprano part, Verena Tönjes sings alto, Mark Watson Williams tenor, and Stephan Bootz bass. Together with the choir of the State Theater Mainz and the Philharmonic State Orchestra Mainz, a multifaceted interplay of language, song, and symphonic sound emerges. The musical direction is taken by Gabriel Venzago.
An Evening for Romance Lovers and Explorers
With a duration of about 145 minutes including a break, the concert combines familiar masterpieces with a rarely played dramatic composition. The introduction in the hall begins at 7:00 PM, and the concert starts at 8:00 PM. On the same day, the State Theater invites you to the concert teaser REINGEHÖRT at 1:00 PM.
The audience can expect an intense concert evening with a great live atmosphere, differentiated acoustics, and a thrilling dramaturgy between Brahms' sunny sound world and Schumann's psychological music theater. Anyone wanting to experience romantic orchestral literature in its full emotional range should discover Anti-Heroes live in the Grand Hall.
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