Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor ‘Resurrection’
Perfomed by Christiane Oelze (soprano) & Sarah Connolly (alto), with the
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, MDR Rundfunkchor, Berliner Rundfunkchor & GewandhausChor, conducted by Riccardo Chailly
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is one of the oldest concert orchestras in the world. At Leipzig’s International Mahler Festival they performed his Second Symphony, with the two singers and the and choral groups listed above.
Mahler said the following about the final movement of his 2nd symphony:
“The increasing tension, working up to the final climax, is so tremendous that I don’t know myself, now that it is over, how I ever came to write it.”
This is a live recording, done May, 2011; it is beautifully photographed, with the editors showing an excellent understanding of being close-in on the right instruments at the right points in time.
In the “Urlicht” section, Sarah Connolly sings passionately, with each syllable perfectly timed and precisely articulated. And in the final movement Christiane Oelze is right there with every note, sung with terrific expressiveness.
The start of the last movement is literally shattering and dramatic in this performance.
Here is a section of this amazing work:
And here is a Mahler interview with Riccardo Chailly
Tags: Gustav Mahler, Symphony #2, Ricardo Chailly, Gewandhaus Orchestra