Performance

Symphony No. 2 (Mahler) in C minor, “RESURRECTION,” is one of the most monumental and emotionally powerful works in the oeuvre of Gustav Mahler. Composed between 1888 and 1894, it was premiered in 1895 in Berlin under the composer’s own baton. The work calls for vast performing forces: a large symphony orchestra, mixed choir, and solo soprano and alto voices.

 

The symphony consists of five movements. The first, in C minor, takes the form of a dramatic funeral march, often interpreted as a musical depiction of the hero’s burial. The second and third movements introduce contrast, bringing lyricism, dance-like elements, as well as irony and unease. The fourth movement, “Urlicht,” draws on the collection Des Knaben Wunderhorn and has an intimate, prayer-like character. The finale presents an expansive vision of the Last Judgment and resurrection. Mahler gradually builds tension, employing spatial effects and the powerful sonority of the choir. At the climax, the words “Aufersteh’n” (“You shall rise again”) resound, inspired by the poetry of Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock and supplemented by the composer.

 

The work addresses fundamental questions about the meaning of life, death, and the hope for spiritual renewal. Owing to its expressive force, symbolism, and monumental form, the Second Symphony remains one of Mahler’s most frequently performed and highly esteemed works, widely regarded as a milestone in the history of music at the turn of the 20th century.