Mahler 7
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Harding

2023 saw the long-awaited return of the Mahler Festival at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, which had to be postponed due to the pandemic. It focused on the life and work of Gustav Mahler, presenting performances of all symphonies and more works by leading Mahler experts over the span of 18 days.

“It is my best work, with a primarily cheerful character”. This was Gustav Mahler’s assessment of his Symphony No. 7, which was also highly regarded by Arnold Schoenberg, who said, “I had an impression of absolute peace based on artistic harmony. Something able to set me in motion without recklessly unsettling my center of gravity.” In Leipzig, Daniel Harding and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra performed Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 that oscillates between carefree lightness and grueling darkness like no other in his symphonic canon, their joint interpretation being praised as “the best there is.” (LVZ)