Mahler:
- Symphony No. 1
Including Mahler’s original ‘Blumine’ movement.
While Gustav Mahler ultimately had an amazing career as a conductor, he suffered from terrible persecution because he was born into a Jewish home. Still, the excellence of his conducting craft propelled him to the top conducting job at the Vienna Opera and at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mahler was also a composer, but he composed mainly during summers when he could escape to the Austrian countryside.
Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony is the opening chapter of his spiritual autobiography. And the music itself seems to awaken very quietly from hushed strings and woodwind cuckoos into its full stride. Originally this work included the so-called “Blumine” movement, but Mahler ultimately removed it from this symphony. On this CD this movement is included as a separate track.
We get to hear the following:
Mahler:
- Blumine (original 2nd movement of Symphony No. 1)
- Symphony No. 1 in D major ‘Titan’
Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski
Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra in this live 2010 concert performance including the Symphony’s original second movement, ‘Blumine’.
Gramophone Magazine wrote:
“an undeniably fresh and often startling performance…Jurowski ‘hears’ everything but better yet the reasons for everything. His precipitous way with tempo contrasts creates moments of high drama in the outer movements…if ever there was a case for wanting the roar of applause, this is it.”
Here is the Mahler “Blumine” movement that Mahler ultimately excluded from the Symphony #1, as performed by the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Harding:
As many of you know, Leonard Bernstein was an expert in performing Mahler’s music. Let’s listen to his interpretation of the Mahler Symphony No. 1:
Tags: Gustav Mahler, Symphony #1, Leonard Bernstein, Blumine, Vladimir Jurowski, London Philharmonic Orchestra