Gustav Mahler Edith Mathis, Norma Procter, Chor Und SinfonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik - Symphonie Nr 2 Resurrection

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Review by John Dey

Album Review: Symphonie Nr. 2 "Resurrection" by Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler’s Symphonie Nr. 2 “Resurrection” is one of those monumental works that grabs you by the soul and doesn’t let go. This recording, performed by Edith Mathis, Norma Procter, Chor und Sinfonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks under Rafael Kubelik, stands out as a masterclass in Romantic classical music. Released on Deutsche Grammophon with its iconic Joseph Mallord William Turner cover art, this album feels like stepping into a vivid painting of sound. The sheer scale of the symphony—five movements, two vocal soloists, a full chorus—is enough to make your head spin. But it’s not just about size; it’s how every note seems to carry the weight of human existence itself. Listening to this rendition feels almost sacred, like you’re eavesdropping on something bigger than life. Let me zoom in on two tracks that really stuck with me. First up, there’s the fourth movement, "Urlicht" (track 4). Sung hauntingly by alto Norma Procter, this piece is simplicity itself but packs an emotional punch. It’s based on a poem from Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn, and when Procter sings lines like “I come from God and will return to God,” you can’t help but feel like you’re hearing someone bare their soul. The orchestra stays understated here, letting her voice shine through without overpowering it. There’s a rawness to her delivery—a mix of vulnerability and strength—that makes you want to hit replay over and over again. Then there’s the final movement (5. Satz), which builds into an absolute juggernaut of sound. You’ve got soprano Edith Mathis joining forces with Procter, plus the choir coming in full force for Klopstock’s hymn Die Auferstehung. If you didn’t already get chills from the rest of the symphony, this part seals the deal. Kubelik conducts the orchestra with such precision that even during the wildest sections, everything feels perfectly balanced. When the choir erupts with “Sterben werd’ ich, um zu leben!” (“I shall die, so as to live!”), it’s hard not to feel goosebumps crawling up your arms. Honestly, I had to pause after listening to this track—it’s just that overwhelming. What strikes me most about this recording isn’t just the technical brilliance or the powerhouse performances—it’s the humanity woven into every moment. From Otto Freudenthal leading the orchestra to Wolfgang Schubert shaping the chorus, everyone involved brings their A-game. And credit where it’s due, engineer Heinz Wildhagen nails the balance between clarity and depth, making sure no detail gets lost. If I’m being honest, though, what stayed with me long after the last note faded wasn’t any particular melody or lyric. It was the realization that this symphony isn’t just about death and resurrection—it’s about hope. In a world that sometimes feels chaotic and heavy, Mahler reminds us that beauty can rise out of despair. Oh, and here’s a random thought: if aliens ever visit Earth and ask us to explain what humans are all about, we should play them this album. They’d probably leave thinking we’re either geniuses or total drama queens—but hey, at least they’d understand our hearts. Rating: 9/10 A must-listen for anyone who loves big emotions wrapped in beautiful chaos.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: gustav-mahler-edith-mathis-norma-procter-chor-und.zip
  • MP3 size: 28.7 mb
  • FLAC size: 231 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
3. Satz: In Ruhig Fliessender Bewegung
Symphonie Nr. 2 C-moll (Auferstehungs-Symphonie)
5. Satz (2. Teil): Langsam. Misterioso (Sopran- Und Altsoli, Chor Nach Klopstocks Hymne "Die Auferstehung")
2. Satz: Andante Moderato
4. Satz: "Urlicht" (Altsolo Aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn") Sehr Feierlich, Aber Schlicht, Attacca:
5. Satz: Im Tempo Des Scherzos. Wild Herausfahrend — Allegro Energico
1. Satz: Allegro Maestoso

Images

ladda ner album Gustav Mahler Edith Mathis, Norma Procter, Chor Und SinfonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik - Symphonie Nr 2 Resurrection

Catalog Numbers

413 524-1

Labels

Deutsche Grammophon

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Formats

  • 2 × Vinyl
  • LP
  • Album
  • Reissue

Credits

RoleCredit
Alto VocalsNorma Procter
ChorusChor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Chorus MasterWolfgang Schubert
Composed ByGustav Mahler
ConductorRafael Kubelik
CoverJoseph Mallord William Turner
PaintingJoseph Mallord William Turner
EngineerHeinz Wildhagen
LeaderOtto Freudenthal
OrchestraSymphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Unknown Artist
ProducerDr. Wilfried Daenicke
Recording SupervisorHans Weber
Soprano VocalsEdith Mathis

Notes

  • gatefold sleeve
  • liner notes in lyrics in German, English and French

About Gustav Mahler Edith Mathis, Norma Procter, Chor Und SinfonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik

Austrian composer and conductor. Born 7 July 1860 in Kalischt, Bohemia (today Kaliště, Czech Republic) and died 18 May 1911 in Vienna, Austria. Gustav Mahler (German pronunciation: ; was a late-Romantic Austrian-Bohemian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer, he acted as a bridge between the 19th century Austro-German tradition and the modernism of the early 20th century. While in his lifetime his status as a conductor was established beyond question, his own music gained wide popularity only after periods of relative neglect which included a ban on its performance in much of Europe during the Nazi era. After 1945 the music was discovered and championed by a new generation of listeners; Mahler then became one of the most frequently performed and recorded of all composers, a position he has sustained into the 21st century. Born in humble circumstances, Mahler showed his musical gifts at an early age. After graduating from the Vienna Conservatory in 1878, he held a succession of conducting posts of rising importance in the opera houses of Europe, culminating in his appointment in 1897 as director of the Vienna Court Opera (Hofoper). During his ten years in Vienna, Mahlerwho had converted to Catholicism from Judaism to secure the postexperienced regular opposition and hostility from the anti-Semitic press. Nevertheless, his innovative productions and insistence on the highest performance standards ensured his reputation as one of the greatest of opera conductors, particularly as an interpreter of the stage works of and . Late in his life he was briefly director of New York's and . He wed fellow composer and musician on 9 March 1902. They had two daughters, Maria Anna Mahler (03.11.1902-05.07.1907) & . Mahler's œuvre is relatively smallfor much of his life composing was a part-time activity, secondary to conductingand is confined to the genres of symphony and song, except for one piano quartet. Most of his ten symphonies are very large-scale works, several of which employ soloists and choirs in addition to augmented orchestral forces. These works were often controversial when first performed, and were slow to receive critical and popular approval; an exception was the triumphant premiere of his Eighth Symphony in 1910. Mahler's immediate musical successors were the composers of the Second Viennese School, notably , and . and are among later 20th-century composers who admired and were influenced by Mahler. The International Gustav Mahler Institute was established in 1955, to honour the composer's life and work.

Real Name

    • Gustav Mahler

Name Vars

  • Fauré
  • G. Mahler
  • G. Meler
  • G.Mahler
  • Gustav
  • Gustave Mahler
  • Maher
  • Mahler
  • Mahler G.
  • Mahler Gustav
  • Mahler, Gustav
  • Malher
  • Marhler
  • Μάλερ
  • Г. Малер
  • Г.Малер
  • Густав Малер
  • Малер
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Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? Gustav Mahler's *Symphonie Nr. 2 Resurrection* is not just a masterpiece of Romantic classical music but also a deeply personal work. Mahler wrote parts of it while grieving the death of his own brother. The fourth movement, "Urlicht," features a hauntingly beautiful alto solo that reflects themes of peace and redemption. Interestingly, the album cover for this recording by Deutsche Grammophon uses a painting by Joseph Mallord William Turner, blending visual art with Mahler’s emotional soundscape. It’s like two worlds—music and painting—coming together to tell a story of life, death, and resurrection.