Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
First broadcast from 20061211 to 20081029.
7 episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20061211 | Gustav Mahler began early in life to carve out a career as a successful if controversial conductor. Donald Macleod begins his exploration of Mahler's life with his only surviving piece of chamber music and two works inspired by a love affair. Piano Quartet movement Christoph Eschenbach (piano) David Kim (violin) Choong-Jin Chang (viola) Efe Baltacigil (cello) Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen Thomas Hampson (baritone) David Lutz (piano) Symphony No 1 (last movement) Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rafael Kubelik (conductor). | |
| 02 | 20061212 | Mahler was drawn to romantic literature and was captivated by the collection of German folk poetry Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Donald Macleod introduces a selection of his settings plus the final movement of his second symphony, inspired by the Resurrection Ode sung at the memorial service of the man who gave Mahler his first break as a symphonic conductor. Scheiden und Meiden Christianne Stotijn (mezzo) Julius Drake (piano) Der Verfolgten in Turm; Wer has dies Liedlein erdacht?; Lob des hohen Verstandes; Urlicht (Des Knaben Wunderhorn) Anne Sofie Von Otter (mezzo) Thomas Quasthoff (baritone) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Claudio Abbado (conductor) Symphony No 2 (final movement) Arleen Auger (soprano) Janet Baker (mezzo) City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and Orchestra Simon Rattle (conductor). | |
| 02 | 1908-1909 | 20081028 | Donald Macleod continues his exploration of Mahler's last years, looking at how the composer settled into life in New York and his first experiences conducting the city's orchestras. Symphony No 7 (5th mvt) New York Philharmonic Rafael Kubelik (conductor) NYP 9807/08 CD 8 - Tr 1 Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (Ruckert-Lieder) Jennie Tourel (mezzo-soprano) New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Sony Classical SM2K 47 576 CD2 - Tr 8 Symphony No 9 (4th mvt) San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor) San Francisco Symphony 821936-007-2 CD 2 - Tr 2 |
| 03 | 20061213 | When he met his future wife Alma Schindler in 1901, Mahler had been working as director of the Vienna State Opera for nearly four years. In spite of antagonising virtually everyone he worked with, he was responsible for a continuous stream of outstanding innovative productions. Donald Macleod introduces three works written during the first years of his marriage which celebrate his love for his new wife, including one of the most famous slow movements of all time. Symphony No 5 (Adagietto) New York Philharmonic Orchestra Zubin Mehta (conductor) Ich atmet einem linden Duft; Um Mitternacht; Liebst du um Schonheit; Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (Ruckert-Lieder) Brigitte Fassbaender (mezzo) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Chailly (conductor) Symphony No 6 (first movement) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Herbert von Karajan (conductor). | |
| 04 | 20061214 | In the summer of 1907, tragedy struck when Mahler's daughter Maria died. Soon afterwards, Mahler discovered that he had a heart defect which would ultimately kill him. Donald Macleod introduces his setting of a series of poems on the death of children, written some years before the loss of his own child, and one of the biggest symphonic works ever conceived. Kindertotenlieder Janet Baker (mezzo) Halle Orchestra John Barbirolli (conductor) Symphony No 8 ? first movement Vienna State Opera Chorus Vienna Singverein Vienna Boys' Choir Chicago Symphony Orchestra Georg Solti (conductor). | |
| 05 LAST | 20061215 | It was in his new summer retreat in the Austrian Tyrol that Mahler finished his final song cycle, The Song of the Earth. Donald Macleod introduces a vintage recording of the complete work, conducted by one of Mahler's greatest champions, Bruno Walter. The series concludes with the monumental slow movement which ends Mahler's last completed symphony, not heard in public until a year after his death. Das Lied von der Erde Kathleen Ferrier (alto) Julius Patzak (tenor) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Bruno Walter (conductor) Symphony No 9 - final movement Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Claudio Abbado (conductor). | |
| 1909-1910 | 20081029 | Donald Macleod explores Mahler's life in New York City, a hustling and bustling metropolis that even presented him with women's suffrage marches outside his hotel apartment window. Despite a successful second season conducting the New York Philharmonic, misfortune struck again when Mahler discovered his wife was conducting an affair with the young German architect Walter Gropius. Symphony No 1 (2nd, 3rd mvts) Chicago Symphony Orchestra Georg Solti (conductor) Decca 475 8230 Trs 2, 3 Hurrah for Woman Suffrage! (words: Nettie Metcalf); Dixie (tune: Daniel Decateur Emmett) The Homespun Singers Miriam Reed Productions - Tr 1 In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus (Kindertotenlieder) Stephen Genz (baritone) Roger Vignoles (piano) Hyperion CDA67392 - Tr 21 Symphony No 10 (excerpt) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Claudio Abbado (conductor) DG 447 023-2 CD 12 - Trs 9-13 |