This is a rare opportunity to sit amongst musicians and be surrounded by the epic orchestral writing of Gustav Mahler. Conductor Sir Mark Elder leads visionary symphony orchestra The Hallé through extracts of the composer’s expansive Fifth Symphony.

In Mahler’s own words: ‘A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.’ His Fifth Symphony stays true to this provocation. Written across the summers of 1901 and 1902, the symphony charts an emotional trajectory of despair to victory across five movements. During this intense period of creativity, Mahler met and married his wife Alma, all the while recovering from a near-death experience.

Pull up a beanbag next to the musicians and be swept along by Mahler’s story, which culminates in the Adagietto, the composer’s great declaration of love. This symphony – which has been thrust back into the pop culture spotlight following the release of the Oscar-nominated film Tár – is best experienced up close. By popular demand, The Hallé will perform the piece in full the following day.