Mahler's Symphony No. 9 was his last completed work, with the orchestral draft finished on September 2, 1909.
Composer Biography
Mahler had a superstition about the number nine, believing that writing a ninth symphony would be a premonition of his own death, as it had been for Beethoven, Schubert, and Bruckner.
Recording & Production
This album's Mahler Symphony No. 1 was recorded at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, in March 2003, and Symphony No. 9 was recorded there in June 2006.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mahler's First Symphony, completed in his mid-twenties, was autobiographical, drawing on previous works and alluding to unsuccessful love affairs.
Performer Biography
Gerard Schwarz, the conductor on this album, has been Music Director of the Seattle Symphony since 1985 and is one of the world's most recorded artists with over 200 recordings.
Notable Performances
The first performance of Mahler's 9th Symphony took place in Vienna on June 26, 1912, conducted by Bruno Walter, more than a year after Mahler's death.
Composition History
To 'divert fate' from the number nine, Mahler titled his work after the Eighth Symphony 'Das Lied von der Erde' (the song of the earth) instead of numbering it as his Ninth.
