To celebrate the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts’ 25th anniversary, Dr. Joel Neves and the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra have selected Gustav Mahler’s "Resurrection" Symphony as the monumental season finale. As the only professional performing arts space in the Upper Peninsula, the Rozsa Center provides the acoustics and physical capacity required for such a massive undertaking. Neves considers this masterpiece the pinnacle of symphonic literature (he calls it the "G.O.A.T." of symphonies, or "greatest of all time"), making it the ideal choice to honor the venue's history and its vital role in the regional arts community.
Learn more about Mahler's Resurrection Symphony in a video interview with Dr. Neves:
The performance will be the largest choral-orchestral production in the center’s history, featuring nearly 200 musicians on stage. This ensemble is a true regional collaboration, bringing together the Choirs of Michigan Tech and musicians from the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, along with guest artists traveling from as far as Kansas and Wisconsin. Beyond the sheer number of people on stage, the production involves complex logistics, including off-stage brass and percussion ensembles positioned high in the rafters to create an immersive listening experience.
Revel in the power of Mahler's music as Leonard Bernstein leads the London Symphony Orchestra in the Resurrection Symphony's finale:
Mahler's Resurrection Symphony leads the audience through an emotional narrative that mirrors the themes of springtime and renewal. The journey begins with funeral rites and moves through moments of nostalgia and grief before reaching a climax of hope. The first half of the symphony is mostly instrumental; the second half calls for the choir and soloists Lara Neves and Kathryn Summersett.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Neves about the upcoming concert:
This performance marks the official Upper Peninsula premiere of Mahler’s Second Symphony, a work so demanding that most of the participating musicians have never had the opportunity to perform it in their careers. By staging such a historic and technically challenging masterpiece, the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and its partners are setting a bold tone for the future of music in the region.
The concert is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:30pm, taking place at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts on Michigan Tech’s campus. Visit mtu.edu/rozsa for tickets and more information.
