Wed, September 2nd, 2026
Beethoven's Pastorale

“Natural,” “artificial”… Isn’t that a curious contrast? Hasn’t nature always inspired art, doesn’t art touch us in a natural way? We call something “artificial” as if Gustav Mahler’s “Blumine” or Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Pastoral” were less real than their natural sources of inspiration. The landscapes painted there may be imaginary, yet their effect is undeniable. Mahler’s “Blumine” transports its audience to a place of deep contentment and contemplation; this place may be different for each of us, but it is real. Beethoven’s “Pastoral,” on the other hand, leads us through evocative rural scenes and thus still speaks to our souls 200 years later. The so-called “pastoral” mood, however, only comes alive thanks to the contrast with city life. In this program, this contrast becomes audible in Oscar Strasnoy’s “Sinfonia Concertante.” Amidst the two pastoral worlds of Mahler and Beethoven, a double concerto written for Jean-Guihen Queyras and his long-time duo partner Alexandre Tharaud will be performed, deliberately distinguishing itself from the rest of the program in terms of sound and genre. This contrast is what makes the "arrival in the countryside"—as Beethoven describes the first movement of his Sixth Symphony—truly fitting.

Program:
Gustav Mahler - "Blumine" Symphonic Movement for Orchestra
- INTERMISSION -
Oscar Strasnoy - Sinfonia Concertante for Cello, Piano and Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastoral"

Individual tickets for subscription concerts can be booked from August 20, 2026. Until then, please send us an email indicating your desired ticket category and the number of tickets required.

Ticket office (Mon–Fri, 9:30–13:30):
Stadthaus Winterthur, Stadthausstrasse 4a, CH-8400 Winterthur, Tel. +41 52 620 20 20, konzertkarten@musikkollegium.ch

Other ticket outlets
- Winterthur Tourism, Main Train Station, CH-8400 Winterthur
- Ticket Corner, all Swiss ticket outlets