Prégardien Performs Rückert-Lieder

Tenor Julian Prégardien will perform Gustav Mahler’s “Rückert-Lieder” in a concert at the Wiener Konzerthaus on April 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien’s programming, with Cornelius Meister conducting. Prégardien, who serves as the portrait artist for the current season at the venue, is featured as the soloist for the evening.

The concert program opens with Kaija Saariaho’s “Song for Betty,” followed by Mahler’s five orchestral songs based on poems by Friedrich Rückert. Notably, the third song in the cycle, “Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder,” will be performed first in this arrangement, deviating from its original position. The cycle concludes with “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen,” which Mahler originally placed fourth but is presented here as the final piece.

After the intermission, Prégardien will participate in a live conversation with Helene Breisach. The second half of the concert features the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien performing Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” in Maurice Ravel’s orchestration. The work includes well-known movements such as “Der Gnom,” “Der Ochsenkarren,” and “Ballett der Küken in ihren Eierschalen.” Each half of the concert begins with a short orchestral work by Kaija Saariaho, with “Lumière et pesanteur” opening the second part.

Prégardien is recognized as one of the leading Lied singers of his generation, known for expressing his passion for the art song through diverse concert programs and innovative performance formats. The event will be broadcast live by ORF Radio in 5.1 Surround Sound from the Großer Konzerthaussaal in Vienna.