Mahler:
- Symphony No. 1 in D major ‘Titan’
Performed by the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, conducted by Edo de Waart
Back in 1959, when I accepted my first position as a computer engineer, I moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. And there I became a member of the Minneapolis Civic Orchestra. It was during that time that I first learned to play the violin part of the Symphony #1 by Gustav Mahler. These many rehearsals, under conductor Thomas Nee, allowed me to learn the essence of Mahler’s music. Then I went on to study and experience the other works of Mahler, which I cherish to this day.
This recording of Mahler’s First Symphony is conducted by Edo de Waart, Chief Conductor of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic. Immersing himself in the musical world of Mahler, de Waart communicates to the listener what motivated Mahler and how this symphony took shape as a sequence of the composer’s experiences: the first two movements progress from youthful springtime to confident adulthood; the last two from the death of a famous musician to rebirth.
Here is Edo de Waart conducting Mahler’s 3rd symphony:
And here is Mahler’s symphony No.1, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angles Philharmonic:
Finally, let’s hear Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 with Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (55 minutes)
Tags: Gustav Mahler, Symphony Number 1, Edo de Waart, Royal Flemish Philharmonic