• Fri 19.01.
  • 8.00 p.m.
  • Bremen
    ·Die Glocke

Of earthly love and the heavenly life

1st First Night subscription concert

Works by Schumann and Mahler

Music about life with all its hopes and disappointments, abrasions and ecstasies is presented by Principal Guest Conductor Tarmo Peltokoski at the start of the new concert year, alongside Israeli soprano Chen Reiss, who made her brilliant Chamber Philharmonic debut at the ›Summer in Lesmona‹ in 2022. In ›Frauenliebe und Leben‹, Schumann uses eight of Chamisso’s poems to trace a woman’s path: her first time falling in love, the emotional rush of love, the joys of marriage and motherhood. However, the early death of her lover brings an abrupt end. In contrast, the folk song ›Der Himmel hängt voll Geigen‹ suggests a glimpse into a »heavenly life« Mahler was inspired by the text from ›Des Knaben Wunderhorn‹ for the finale of his Symphony No. 4, a score that draws an alternating cycle of bliss and doubt, ironic distance and blissful dreamlike forlornness with unusual transparency of sound. In the end, the »heavenly joys« prove to be very earthly and Mahler’s concept of paradise a radical commentary on the course of the world.

Programme

    • Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
    • ›Frauenliebe und Leben‹ for soprano and orchestra
    • Gustav Mahler (1860–1911)
    • Symphony no. 4 in G major

Conductor

Tarmo Peltokoski

Described by the Tagesspiegel newspaper as a »once-in-a-century talent«, Tarmo Peltokoski was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen in January 2022, thereby becoming the first conductor in the orchestra’s history to hold this position. In May 2022, he was appointed Music and Artistic Director of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and was later appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Since the 2025/26 season, this Finnish conductor has been Music Director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. From the 2026/27 season, Peltokoski will become Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, having served as Designated Music Director in 2025/26. In addition, Peltokoski will begin his three-year residency as ›Exclusive Artist‹ at the Konzerthaus Dortmund in the 2025/26 season.

Peltokoski has already conducted numerous orchestras of note worldwide, including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and The Los Angeles Philharmonic. He conducted his first complete ›Ring Cycle‹ at the age of 22 at the Eurajoki Bel Canto Festival. His upcoming Wagner opera productions include ›Tristan und Isolde‹ (Dutch National Opera), his debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin with ›Parsifal‹,  and ›Lohengrin‹ with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

In 2023, he received the OPUS Klassik award for his recording with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen. In October of the same year, he signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon; his debut album was released in May 2024.

Soprano

Chen Reiss

This much-celebrated soprano enchants the audience with »a voice full of silvery brilliance and clarity« (Bachtrack). Israeli-born, Chen Reiss’ singing career began at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich under General Music Director Zubin Mehta. Since then, numerous engagements have taken her to renowned opera houses such as the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the Teatro alla Scala and the Israeli Opera. In addition, the soprano was Resident Artist at the Wiener Staatsoper for many years and is currently Artist in Residence at the Rotterdam Philharmonisch Orkest, where she offers a broad spectrum ranging from Mozart to Korngold.

Reiss also appears regularly at international festivals, from the BBC Proms to the Salzburg Festival. She regularly works with major orchestras such as the Wiener and Münchner Philharmoniker, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, as well as with outstanding conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Daniele Gatti and Vladimir Jurowski. In December 2014, she sang at the Christmas Mass for Pope Francis, which was broadcast worldwide. With the Wiener Philharmoniker, she appeared as guest soloist at a gala concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of Suntory Hall in Tokyo. She also worked with the Berlin Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle on the soundtrack to Tom Tykwer’s film ›Perfume‹. Chen Reiss has an extensive discography. Recent releases include Mahler’s 4th Symphony with Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic and Schreker’s ›Vom ewigen Leben‹ with Christoph Eschenbach and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. After her celebrated debut at the ›Summer in Lesmona‹ 2022, this soprano now returns to the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen.

Conductor

Tarmo Peltokoski

Described by the Tagesspiegel newspaper as a »once-in-a-century talent«, Tarmo Peltokoski was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen in January 2022, thereby becoming the first conductor in the orchestra’s history to hold this position. In May 2022, he was appointed Music and Artistic Director of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and was later appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Since the 2025/26 season, this Finnish conductor has been Music Director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. From the 2026/27 season, Peltokoski will become Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, having served as Designated Music Director in 2025/26. In addition, Peltokoski will begin his three-year residency as ›Exclusive Artist‹ at the Konzerthaus Dortmund in the 2025/26 season.

Peltokoski has already conducted numerous orchestras of note worldwide, including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and The Los Angeles Philharmonic. He conducted his first complete ›Ring Cycle‹ at the age of 22 at the Eurajoki Bel Canto Festival. His upcoming Wagner opera productions include ›Tristan und Isolde‹ (Dutch National Opera), his debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin with ›Parsifal‹,  and ›Lohengrin‹ with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

In 2023, he received the OPUS Klassik award for his recording with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen. In October of the same year, he signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon; his debut album was released in May 2024.