Mahler 3: notes

Gustav Mahler’s (1860–1911) Third Symphony deserves many superlatives: it is his longest, most multifaceted, most humanistic and most optimistic symphony. And with its enormous instrumentation – the work requires an exceptionally large orchestra, an alto soloist and a women’s and children’s choir – it is also one of the most expansive. But more importantly, this composition best reflects Mahler’s vision of the genre and of the world.

“Imagine a work of such magnitude that it actually represents the whole world. My Third Symphony will be something that has never been heard before. In this music, the whole of nature finds a voice.”

Mahler wrote this in 1896, whilst putting the finishing touches to the composition. Whereas his first two symphonies allude to rather sombre themes such as death and resurrection, with his Third Mahler pays homage to the creation of the world and nature. In doing so, he refers not only to the flora and fauna that surround us, but also to human nature and the contrast between earthly and spiritual existence. The result is a truly spectacular journey lasting an hour and a half, taking the listener through primal forces and natural beauty, from humanity to the afterlife.