Music Director Jaap van Zweden leads the epic Fifth Symphony by his predecessor, Gustav Mahler. This five-movement symphonic tour de force encompasses intense passion, demonic energy, and breathtaking radiance.
MAHLER (1860–1911)
Symphony No. 5 (1901–02)
PART I
1. Trauermarsch: in gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt. (Funeral March: With measured step. Strict. Like a cortège)
2. Stürmisch bewegt, mit grösster Vehemenz (Stormily, with greatest vehemence)
PART II
3. Scherzo: Kräftig, nicht zu schnell (Vigorously, not too fast)
PART III
4. Adagietto: Sehr langsam (Very slow)
5. Rondo-Finale: Allegro giocoso
Renowned soprano Jessye Norman performs Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, a pensive set of orchestral songs meditating on love and death — perhaps Mahler’s favorite themes. Then she joins Zubin Mehta and the Orchestra in Wagner’s ecstatic aria of fatal love.
MAHLER (1860 –1911)
Five Late Songs ...
In his penultimate symphony, in the despairing key of G minor, Mozart descends to great depths for profound emotional impact.
MOZART (1756–91)
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550 (1788)
1. Molto allegro
2. Andante
3. Menuetto
4. Allegro assai
Emanuel Ax solos in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto — a work of spirit and elegance. Kurt Masur, the Philharmonic’s Music Director at the time, conducts this 1994 performance.
BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 (ca. 1795 / 1800)
1. Allegro con brio
2. Largo
3. R...
