Episode 1: Mahler’s First Symphony

The main thing to love about Mahler is his commitment to going big, and when I say big, I mean his colossal works of music in size, sound, and emotion. Mahler once said, “A symphony should be like the world. It must contain everything.” While his First Symphony certainly contains a heck of a lot, I love this piece because it not only broadens perceptions of what classical music is, it’s also incredibly life-affirming.

Suggested recordings:

Leonard Bernstein conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (1989, live recording)

Rafael Kubelik conducting the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (album released in 2000)