About

SAN ANTONIO PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS

MAHLER SYMPHONY NO. 2

"RESURRECTION"

MAY 23 & 24 | 7:30 P.M. |  SAN ANTONIO SCOTISH RITE HALL 

The San Antonio Philharmonic will close its 2024-25 season with Classics X, the final concert in its subscription series, featuring one of the most ambitious and emotionally powerful works in the orchestral repertoire: Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection”. Performances take place May 23 and 24, 2025, at the historic Scottish Rite Hall, led by Music Director and Conductor Jeffrey Kahane.

This large-scale production–the Philharmonic’s biggest yet–features over 200 musicians and singers on stage, including the San Antonio Mastersingers under the direction of Yoojin Muhn, soprano Erica Petrocelli, mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado, and the full Philharmonic orchestra. The magnificent Great Moller Pipe Organ, built into the Scottish Rite itself and brought back to life by the Philharmonic team, will amplify the music in sweeping waves, filling the hall and its historic walls with an unforgettable soundscape.

“This is the kind of piece you don’t just listen to–you live it,” says Kahane, who credits Resurrection with transforming his own life when he first heard it as a teenager. “It’s a journey of the soul–from doubt and despair to radiant hope and transcendence.”

About Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony

Composed between 1888 and 1894, Symphony No. 2 is one of the most monumental and emotionally stirring works in the symphonic canon. It begins with a solemn funeral march and builds to an ecstatic, choral finale, guiding listeners through a powerful narrative of life, death, and rebirth.

• The final movement features poetry by Friedrich Klopstock, along with Mahler’s own verses, culminating in the line: “I shall die... so I may live.”

• The piece integrates chorus and soloists on a massive scale, redefining the symphony in the wake of Beethoven’s Ninth.

• Its full premiere in 1895 in Berlin was a triumph, cementing Mahler’s legacy as one of the greatest symphonic voices of his time.

A deeply spiritual–not strictly religious–work, Resurrection was inspired by Mahler’s personal grief and existential questioning, particularly following the death of his mentor Hans von Bülow. The work reflects the philosophical tensions of the era: faith vs. reason, science vs. spirituality, and the universal search for meaning.

A Historic Hall for a Historic Performance

Scottish Rite Hall, now co-owned and operated by the San Antonio Philharmonic, is one of the city’s most acoustically stunning venues. The Great Moller Pipe Organ–used for this performance–will send vibrations through the space with unmatched clarity and depth. The Philharmonic has invested in resurrecting the Great Moller Pipe Organ to enhance its production. This is the only hall in San Antonio where a production of this magnitude could come fully to life. The result: a one-of-a-kind sonic and visual experience.

Tickets available online and at the door. $15 student tickets become available on Wednesday, April 30 at 9 AM online, and 1 hour before doors on the night of the concert along with 15% off tickets for Military. 

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Event Details

• Date: Friday, May 23, 2025 & Saturday, May 24, 2025
• Time: Concert - 7:30 P.M. | Doors - 6:30 P.M.
• Venue: San Antonio Scottish Rite Hall
• Website: https://www.majesticempire.com/events/san-antonio-philharmonic/

Ticket Information

• Cost: Startings at $30.50

Presenter Details

• Name: San Antonio Philharmonic

The San Antonio Philharmonic is a nonprofit symphony orchestra dedicated to bringing world-class music to the heart of Texas, offering a wide range of performances designed to inspire and connect the community. Building on the legacies of orchestras dating back more than a century in San Antonio, the San Antonio Philharmonic was re-formed in 2022 from the dissolved San Antonio Symphony, championing the initiative of its own musicians to build an inclusive classical music experience reflecting the city’s diverse heritage. With a mission to promote artistic excellence and make classical music accessible for all, the Philharmonic presents both timeless masterpieces and contemporary works that reflect the spirit of San Antonio. Find the full calendar of events at www.saphil.org

Venue Details