Armenian-born Mané Galoyan makes her debut at the Salzburg Easter Festival 2025. Under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the soprano will sing together with Jasmin White and the Bavarian Radio Chorus in the Choral Concert I, which focuses on Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2, the so-called »Resurrection Symphony«. Find out more about the artist in the interview.
The 2025 Easter Festival programme is entitled »Wounds & Wonders«. How does Mahler's 2nd Symphony fit into the programme?
Mané Galoyan: Music in general is a wonder itself and it can heal wounds. I hope listening to Mahler’s incredible music will be healing for the audience, because for me, being present while a whole orchestra, chorus and soloists are performing this incredible music is medicine for the soul.
Gustav Mahler's »Resurrection Symphony« was considered revolutionary at its premiere and the work still has great dimensions today. What do you personally associate with this work?
Mané Galoyan: I would say it’s one of my favorite symphonies, or one of the symphonies that I studied the most. What I associate with this music is not material, it is a state of mind, where everything else stops and only the moment exists.
The themes of the symphony are death and resurrection. How do you prepare yourself emotionally for this profound theme?
Mané Galoyan: It is true that I sing about death, afterlife, resurrection, but in this symphony it is never tragic. Life, death, afterlife, resurrection are all part of the cycle and they are more than being merely sad or happy, they are transcendent. I sing about these things as an observer, trying to relay the message that the composer was trying to convey.
It will be your first appearance at the Easter Festival and in Salzburg in general. What significance does this debut have for you?
Mané Galoyan: The Easter Festival is one of the most important festivals in the classical world. Being in Salzburg during the Easter Festival is so exciting and such an honor!
You will be working with a choir for this piece, what significance does that have for you as a soprano?
Mané Galoyan: It is always so empowering to hear so many voices sing together. I sang in a choir for 9 years during my teenage years and I always liked the feeling of doing something together with a group of people, creating something together as a group, giving your voice to support one another.
The symphony was written at the end of the 19th century, how do you think the work still fits in today?
Mané Galoyan: I think Mahler’s music in general is timeless and it would fit in in any era.
Have you ever worked with Esa-Pekka Salonen? What do you find interesting about his approach to music?
Mané Galoyan: This will be my first time working with Esa-Pekka Salonen and I am looking forward to it. He’s an incredible musician and is one of not many conductors who always stays true to the score. I am very much looking forward to working with him.
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