Gustav Mahler primarily composed his Symphony No. 3 during the summers of 1895 and 1896 in Steinbach on the Attersee, Austria.
Critical Reception
Despite a public success at its Krefeld premiere in 1902, the Third Symphony received harsh critical reviews, with one critic suggesting Mahler deserved 'a few years in prison' after its Vienna premiere in 1904.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mahler believed a symphony should 'build up a world with all the technical means available,' with the content determining its own form.
Performer Biography
Mariss Jansons, the conductor on this recording, was the son of conductor Arvīds Jansons and studied violin, piano, and conducting at the Leningrad Conservatory.
Composer's Artistic Vision
In Mahler's handwritten score, the movements of the Third Symphony had programmatic titles, such as 'What the flowers in the meadow tell me' and 'What man tells me'.
Critical Reception
Mahler humorously anticipated negative reviews for his Third Symphony, writing to Bruno Walter that it 'exceeds all permissible limits' and might make one feel 'inside some low tavern or barn'.
Recording & Production
This recording is a live performance captured in Munich at the Philharmonie im Gasteig between December 8-10, 2010.
