Gustav Mahler began composing his Fifth Symphony shortly after a near-fatal intestinal hemorrhage in February 1901.
Interpretation
The performance practices for this recording include string players using gut strings and wooden mutes, wind players largely without vibrato, and more sparing vibrato from string players than is common today.
Composition History
The Adagietto movement of Mahler's Fifth Symphony was a wordless marriage proposal to Alma Schindler, whom he met in November 1901 and married in March 1902.
Recording & Production
This recording utilizes a new urtext edition from Breitkopf & Härtel, which systematically integrates Mahler's numerous, sometimes contradictory, revisions made up until shortly before his death.
Critical Reception
Mahler's Fifth Symphony was premiered in 1904 by the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne under his own baton, and it was met with general bewilderment and rejection.
Composition History
Mahler's Fifth Symphony was influenced by his study of Bach, as he felt his own music needed stricter contrapuntal construction.
Interpretation
This recording uses period instruments, meticulously collected to replicate those used by the Vienna Philharmonic around 1900, during Mahler's tenure as director.
