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FULL DES KNABEN WUNDERHORN (Mahler reorganized) Warsaw 2026 Magdalena Cornelius-Kulig, Piotr Lempa
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Des Knaben Wunderhorn
- Composer: Mahler Gustav
- Libretto: Aus des Knaben Wunderhorn, collected and arranged by Achim von Arnim, Clemens Brentano
- Venue & Opera Company: Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio, Warsaw, POland
- Recorded: January 11, 2026
- Type: Concert Live
- Singers: Magdalena Cornelius-Kulig, Piotr Lempa
- Conductor:
- Orchestra: Instrumental Ensemble
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Dwójka - Program 2 Polskiego Radia
- Date Published: 2026
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, gensubs, othersubs
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Concert program:
Gustav Mahler – Des Knaben Wunderhorn
1. Der Schildwache Nachlied
2. Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?
3. Der Tamboursg’sell
4. Rheinlegendchen
5. Lied des Verfolgten im Turm
6. Revelge
7. Ulricht
8. Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt
9. Verlorene Müh
10. Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen
11. Lob des hohen Verstandes
12. Das Iridische Leben
13. Trost im Unglück
Out of a love for Gustav Mahler’s work and the need to create a new, intimate space for his monumental cycle “Des Knaben Wunderhorn,” a project was born that delights with its freshness and original approach to one of the most beautiful works of late Romanticism.
This innovative re-instrumentation of the songs, prepared by Thomas Cornelius – the renowned organist and artist-in-residence of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg – introduces new colors and unexpected sound combinations to Mahler’s music. The project features a chamber ensemble composed of mezzo-soprano, bass/baritone, harp, clarinet, oboe, cello, celesta, horn quartet, and percussion instruments, allowing us to rediscover the cycle in an exceptionally evocative and refreshing setting.
When composing Des Knaben Wunderhorn between 1892 and 1901, Mahler drew inspiration from German poetry and folk music. His songs resonate with distinctive melodies, rhythms, and moods, which in Cornelius’s chamber arrangement gain additional depth and expressiveness. The combination of Mahler’s virtuosity with the creative perspective of a contemporary artist opens up entirely new interpretative possibilities for listeners.
The project offers listeners a unique experience – a musical journey that blends tradition with innovation, past with present. It is a proposition that moves, inspires, and will long be remembered.
The project premiered at Międzylesie Castle during the Lower Silesian Music Festival, and subsequent performances took place at the National Forum of Music in Wrocław.
Event co-organizer: Dwójka – Polish Radio 2
Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.