Behind the Music: Mahler's Symphony No. 3

The outstanding American mezzo Susan Graham joins Andris Nelsons, the BSO, and the women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for Mahler's Third Symphony, which, along with his Symphony No. 2, exemplifies the composer's ambitious expansion of the symphonic genre. This is the second of Mahler's trio of "Wunderhorn" symphonies (Nos. 2-4) employing text from the folk-poetry collection "Des Knaben Wunderhorn". The six-movement symphony is divided into two parts. Part I is a massive, 30-plus-minute opening movement representing a Bacchic procession celebrating the arrival of summer. Part II (movements 2 through 6) is a series of character pieces representing the responses of, in turn, wild flowers, animals of the forest, mankind itself, angels, and the spirit of love.
Performed January 18-20 at Symphony Hall
Video produced by Anthony Princiotti.

[@marisalouisa4518]

One of the finest symphonies ever written.

[@dennisschwartzentruber3204]

I concur !

[@tchaffman]

8:01 Is a great concise argument for the transcendental power of Mahler's music. Brilliant!

[@leestamm3187]

I've always agreed with Mahler's later opinion about eliminating explanations. He came to believe that whatever meaning his music might have was up to the listener to determine. In over 50 years of listening to his uniquely powerful compositions, I have never had any difficulty doing that.

[@AlexionGame]

Thank you for this overview video! Really helpful and informative.