Czech Philharmonic ⬩ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

Programme

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 6 in A minor 79'

Do you love Mahler? Then, at the end of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia’s concert, your ears will be in seventh heaven right up until the Sixth Symphony.

Daniel Harding, also known as the “flying conductor”, will lead his home orchestra at the Rudolfinum to bring the subscription season to a close. After a twenty-year career spent behind the conductor’s podium, when he was thinking about how to break out of his established routine, he decided to return to flying, which he had taken up as a teenager. As he enjoyed studying meteorology and physics and successfully passed the demanding psychological tests, after six years of training he not only obtained his pilot’s licence but also secured a part-time position with Air France.

“In both flying and conducting, it’s all about making the right decisions. You have to process the information coming in and set your priorities. In both activities, you need to pay attention and be aware of the risks involved in each choice. Thanks to flying, I’ve learnt to appreciate the beauty of taking risks in music, where you can afford to do so without anything going wrong.” The holder of a lifetime honorary title of conductor, awarded by the Gustav Mahler Chamber Orchestra, adds that leading parallel professional lives has taken the pressure off him and made him a happier person.

Under the protection of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, we wish all our listeners a happy flight!