The symphony, which the composer originally gave the subtitle ‘Titan’, borrows extensively from the song cycle Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. But Mahler also incorporates elements of Moravian popular music (in the second movement) and – in the slow third movement – famously quotes a minor-mode version of the children’s rhyme Bruder Martin (also known as Frère Jacques). The finale transports the listener to a world of Gothic theatricality reminiscent of Grand Opera, before arriving – after a number of false starts – at the symphony’s heroic chorale-like ending. This symphonic ‘world-in-microcosm’ is here brought to life by the Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vänskä on the fourth instalment in a series which has earned the team the description ‘among the finest exponents of Mahler’s music’ on the website allmusic.com.
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 1 in D major 56'43
01 I. Langsam. Schleppend. - Immer sehr gemächlich 16'14
02 II. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell 7'37
03 III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen 11'24
04 IV. Stürmisch bewegt 21'28
Album total 56'45