Mahler 3: notes

There are many superlatives to Gustav Mahler's (1860-1911) Third Symphony: it is his longest, most versatile, most humanistic and optimistic symphony. And with its gigantic scoring - the work calls for an extraordinarily large orchestra, alto solo and a female and children's choir - it is also one of the most voluminous. But more importantly, this composition best reflects Mahler's vision of the genre and of the world.

"Imagine a work of such magnitude that it actually depicts the whole world. My Third Symphony will be something that has never been heard before. In this music, all of nature finds a voice."

This is what Mahler wrote in 1896, as he put the finishing touches to the composition. Whereas his first two symphonies refer to rather melancholy themes such as death and resurrection, Mahler's Third pays tribute to the creation of the world and nature. In doing so, he refers not only to the fauna and flora that surround us, but also to human nature and the opposition between earthly and spiritual existence. The result makes for a one-and-a-half-hour trip of a lifetime, past primal forces and natural beauty, from humanity to the afterlife.