Munich Philharmonic: Mahler / RottPaavo Järvi (conductor), Okka von der Damerau (mezzo-soprano)
Gustav Mahler himself conducted the Munich Philharmonic on several occasions, including at the world premieres of his Symphony No 4 and the monumental No 8, which culminated in a triumph for the composer.
Gustav Mahler himself conducted the Munich Philharmonic on several occasions, including at the world premieres of his Symphony No 4 and the monumental No 8, which culminated in a triumph for the composer.
- Okka von der Damerau, mezzo-soprano
- Munich Philharmonic
- Paavo Järvi, conductor
Mahler’s moving cycle of Kindertotenlieder, on the other hand, met with incomprehension from his contemporaries, especially his wife Alma. Although the Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children) deal with parents’ worst nightmares, the love that transcends death nevertheless takes centre stage. Okka von der Damerau takes the role of the grieving, loving parent.
Mahler found only admiring words for his fellow student Hans Rott, who died at an early age and in whom Mahler saw a kindred spirit who could have greatly influenced the history of music. Paavo Järvi gives Rott’s first and only symphony, which in many aspects anticipates Mahler’s symphonic style, the attention it has long been denied.
Programme
- Gustav Mahler: “Kindertotenlieder”
- Hans Rott: Symphony No 1 in E major
