The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal opens its new season with two performances dedicated to Gustav Mahler, under the electrifying baton of music director Rafael Payare. The programme centres on Das klagende Lied, a dramatically charged early work composed by Mahler at the age of 20, in which passion and jealousy unfold across a sweeping orchestral canvas. It is paired with a selection from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a song cycle that reveals a more intimate, whimsical, and folk-inspired side of the composer.
Legendary German baritone Matthias Goerne joins the OSM and the OSM Chorus for what promises to be a richly emotional evening. Together they trace a sonic portrait of Mahler that moves between the grand and the deeply personal — an ideal curtain-raiser for the season ahead.
Performances take place on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17, 2026, both at 19:30, at Maison symphonique in Montreal.
Lineup
Rafael Payare
Rafael Payare is a Venezuelan conductor known for his work in classical orchestral music, currently serving as Music Director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and the San Diego Symphony. He has garnered acclaim for his dynamic interpretations of works by Beethoven, Mahler, and other symphonic repertoire.
Matthias Goerne
Matthias Goerne is a legendary baritone featured in this concert of Mahler's works with the OSM. He performs alongside the OSM Chorus and orchestra under the baton of Rafael Payare. His voice is central to bringing Mahler's grand and deeply personal sonic fresco to life.
OSM Chorus
The OSM Chorus is the choral ensemble of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, performing in this season-opening Mahler concert at the Maison symphonique. They join forces with baritone Matthias Goerne and the full OSM orchestra under conductor Rafael Payare. The ensemble contributes to the sweeping orchestral and choral tapestry of Mahler's works, including Das klagende Lied.
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