From apocalypse to apotheosis – in his Symphony No. 2, Gustav Mahler delves into one of humanity’s most profound questions: “Why have you lived?” His music traverses light and darkness, full of turmoil, sorrow, intimacy and earthy joy. Mahler pushed the boundaries of the symphony, incorporating folk songs from the cycle Des Knaben Wunderhorn and, following Beethoven’s model, a magnificent choral finale. In this work, Mahler said, the listener is “struck down by clubs, only to be lifted to the highest heights on angels’ wings.” Daniel Harding conducts.
Artists/Collaborators: Sabine Devieilhe, Marianne Crebassa, Rundfunkchor Berlin