Gustav Mahler
Conductor: Marcus Bosch
Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 7
It is my best work and predominantly cheerful in character, wrote Gustav Mahler about his 7th Symphony shortly before the Prague premiere. The work, which was composed at his summer residence in Maiernigg on Lake Wörthersee, consists of five movements - instead of the classical four - and begins with an advanced first movement full of harmonic tensions and the lament of the tenor horn.
The three middle movements are subtle character pieces: two night musics and a ghostly scherzo with a shadowy title. Alma Mahler, the composer's wife, spoke of Eichendorff-like visions that her husband had in mind when composing, and friends even suggested the title Nachtwanderung.
The second Nachtmusik sounds more friendly and serenade-like with its guitar and mandolin sounds, before Mahler pulls out all the stops for a grandiose jubilant finale in the final rondo: noisy timpani, march and majestic brass, tam-tam, bells and grand apotheosis.
Chief conductor Marcus Bosch opens the new concert season Glück und Schmerz with this challenging symphony.
