Iván Fischer: Mahler Symphony No. 2

Iván Fischer, Music Director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, walks us through the symphonies of Gustav Mahler. He shares his thoughts and feelings about each work, answering your questions and listening to his recording of these masterpieces.
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Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 with Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra
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[@prairiecollectors]

Wonderful commentary. Thanks for sharing.

[@russellb5573]

Love this set of Mahler talks. Love Ivan's love of Mahler. Love his wonderful interpretation of the great 2nd symphony and the fine playing by the Budapest orchestra. What's not to love? Thank you very much 🇬🇧

[@euledj79]

Great, thank you Mr. Fischer! I like how much you appreciate Mahler 2. For me its the reason why being a musician. It is the most important, most emotional, most epic, most bombastic and yet sensitive piece ever written. It accompanies me since years, listened to it dozens of times, performed it 5 times, but nevertheless the climax always makes me cry when the chorus sings the second time: "sterben werd ich, um zu leben." There is nothing comparable in music history, a live concert is a mystic, cathartic experience. Beethoven 9 is a joke compared to Mahlers masterpiece!

[@kaypie3112]

lol I don’t know if i would characterize Beethoven 9 as a “joke” compared to this work. I would say Beethoven 9 is a freshman in college and Mahler 9 is PhD level. How’s that?

[@eleanorlyons2545]

Thank you Iván !

[@Fernwald84]

Why all the funeral music and focus on death in Mahler's works? For one thing, about half of his siblings didn't survive to adulthood (a not uncommon statistic in the 19th century). Mahler's younger brother, Otto, a gifted musician who couldn't get his act together, committed suicide a few years before this symphony was composed. Mahler was the sole support and father substitute for Otto since Mahler senior died in 1889--the same year as his mother and sister, Leopoldine. Further intensification of his concern with death was likely due to the death of the family's firstborn, Isidore (1858-59), who passed a year before Mahler's birth. This baby was never explicitly mentioned but it is common for children born right after a sibling's death take responsibility for the latter.