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Mahler's epic Symphony No.1 is the major work on tonight's Concert.
Tonight, Catherine Bott presents a Full Works concert marking the 125th anniversary this evening of the premiere of Mahler’s 1st Symphony. Catherine has a superb live recording featuring the London Symphony Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, pictured.
This is a work that went through many revisions before Mahler arrived at the version we'll be hearing. His starting point seems to have been modelled on the Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz and which was built around an elaborate narrative. There's also a musical link between Mahler's first symphony and his earlier song cycle Songs of a Wayfarer – and it’s the wayfarer whose journey you can follow through the symphony’s four movements.
DISCOVER: Mahler's first symphony - when is a symphony not a symphony? >
Also featured in the concert is a wonderfully lively overture from Mozart and Shostakovich's well-loved Piano Concerto No.2, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with Martin Helmchen at the piano.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte – Overture
Charles Mackerras conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.2 in F major
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.49 in F minor
Christopher Hogwood conducts the Academy of Ancient Music
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No.1
Valery Gergiev conducts the London Symphony Orchestra