Mahler: Symphony No. 2

For more than 50 years, Sir Simon Rattle, Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, has devoted himself intensely to the deeply personal, emotional, and autobiographical music of Gustav Mahler. Mahler conceived his symphonies as all-encompassing universes that reflect the full spectrum of human life. He famously said: "To me, a symphony means using every available technical resource to build a world." To guide both orchestra and audience through these profoundly moving musical worlds, no conductor is better equipped than Sir Simon Rattle. Mahler's "Resurrection Symphony" explores one of humanity's most profound existential questions: the meaning of life. From the opening movement, originally titled "Totenfeier" ("Funeral Rite"), to the finale, in which the soloists and chorus proclaim "Aufersteh'n wirst du!" ("You shall rise again!"), Mahler grapples with joy and suffering. The Second Symphony's dramatic contrasts, emotional intensity, richly coloured orchestration, and crowning choral finale have made it one of his most beloved works. Now released on CD by BR-Klassik, the Munich performance of the symphony from March 2026 brings together a stellar cast in a superb interpretation of one of the defining masterpieces of the Late Romantic symphonic repertoire.

The premiere of the complete symphony took place on 13 December 1895 in Berlin under Mahler's direction; previously (on 4 March of that year) he had already performed the first three movements. The premiere of the Second Symphony thus took place after that of the Third. The reactions were initially subdued, but today the work ranks as one of the most popular of Mahler's symphonies.