A new Season 4 update from host and producer Aaron Cohen, and an invitation to help us launch the new season on July 7. SUPPORT US PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=91819874 SEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE: https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.html FOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE OR ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahler Contributions of any size are appreciated. For mor...
May 06, 2025•9 min
Host and producer Aaron Cohen talks about the upcoming Season 4 and shares excerpts. SUPPORT US PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=91819874 SEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE: https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.html FOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE OR ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahler Contributions of any size are appreciated. For more information, contact us at suppor...
Sep 26, 2024•13 min
Leonard Bernstein had an affinity for the music of Gustav Mahler, as seen in the climax of the Oscar-nominated 2023 Netflix film “Maestro.” In this special episode, we explore what the two musicians had in common, and learn how Bernstein brought Mahler back into the spotlight in the 1960s. Guests include Jamie Bernstein (Leonard Bernstein's daughter) and Gabe Smith (Archivist for the New York Philharmonic). WATCH THIS EPISODE WITH ARCHIVAL IMAGES FROM THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC: https://www.youtu...
Jan 30, 2024•28 min•Ep. 1
In the sixth and final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony, he reaches the top rung on his ladder of consciousness. This glorious adagio is Mahler’s celebration of God’s perfect love. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voice of Gustav Theodor Fechner ...
Jan 31, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Angels are the next step on Gustav Mahler’s ladder of consciousness. In the joyful fifth movement of his Third Symphony, the orchestra is joined by a children’s choir and a women’s choir giving voice to the angels. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche , and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include James Burton (Choral Director, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Megan and Hannah Laurence (Choristers, Boston Symphony Orch...
Jan 23, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In the fourth movement of his Third Symphony, Gustav Mahler’s ladder of consciousness reaches humanity. It is a dramatic orchestral song for mezzo soprano that explores the meaning of existence, with lyrics from Nietzsche’s book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.” Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche , and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Caroline Kita (Washingto...
Jan 16, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Gustav Mahler made animals the next step upward on his ladder of consciousness in the third movement of his Third Symphony. Summoning both humor and tragedy, he portrays the sounds of the forest, from sweetly singing nightingales to fearsome creatures. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voice of Gustav T...
Jan 09, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In the second movement of his Third Symphony, Gustav Mahler begins the upward journey on the ladder of consciousness. He considers flowers the first step and portrays them in musically charming ways. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voice of Gustav Theodor Fechner Guests include Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Robert Chen (Conc...
Dec 08, 2022•19 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony is the story of creation, with each movement a higher rung on the ladder of consciousness. It begins with lifeless matter and the struggle for life to emerge, portrayed as a musical battle between winter and summer. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Kent Nagano (General Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera, and Chief Condu...
Dec 05, 2022•49 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Season 3 focuses on Mahler’s Third Symphony in D minor (1895-1896), exploring Mahler’s unique perspective on the different orders of being, from lifeless matter to highest consciousness. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony. Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchest...
Nov 22, 2022•3 min
Mahler described the last movement of his Second Symphony, which includes two soloists and a chorus, as a colossal fresco of The Day of Judgement. All of humanity meets its maker, and Mahler stretches his musical wings, soaring to glorious heights. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Kent Nagano, (Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic; Montreal Symphony Orchestr...
Jul 07, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 5
The fourth movement of Mahler’s Second Symphony is a delicate song for mezzo-soprano and orchestra. It’s a turning point in the symphony, where the protagonist’s spiritual wisdom blossoms. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Michael Sachs (Principal Trumpet, Cleveland Orchestra), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia Univ...
Jul 07, 2021•14 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In the summer of 1893, Mahler wrote a song, entitled “St. Anthony of Padua’s Sermon to the Fish.” It turned out so well, he incorporated melodies from it into the third movement of his Second Symphony. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Kent Nagano (Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic; Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philh...
Jul 07, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 3
For his Second Symphony, Mahler created a second movement he described as a memory, “a ray of sunlight, pure and cloudless, out of the hero’s life.” The music is bittersweet. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (New World Symphony; San Francisco Symphony; London Symphony Orchestra), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Matthew Aucoin (Composer/Conductor), D.D. Jackson (Jazz Pianist/Composer), and Marilyn McCoy (Columbia Univer...
Jul 07, 2021•22 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Mahler’s Second Symphony begins with the funeral for the hero of his First Symphony. The dramatic music rages with sorrow and anger...but also hope, for life after death. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler. Guests include Kent Nagano (Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Austin Howle (Principal Tuba, Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Matthew McDonald (Principal Bass, Berlin Philharmonic), Michael Sachs (Principal Trumpet, Clevel...
Jul 07, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Season 2 focuses on Mahler’s Second Symphony in C minor (1888-1894), delving into Mahler’s gigantic musical exploration of life, death, and what lies beyond. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony. Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra; scholars from Columbia and Oxford Universities; and starring James Lurie as the voice...
Jun 23, 2021•2 min
Gustav Mahler originally titled his First Symphony “Titan,” because of the mighty struggle between his hero and fate, a monumental battle that reaches its climax in the fourth movement. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony), William Hudgins (Principal Clarinet, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Jennifer Montone (Principal Horn, Philadelphia Orchestra...
Jul 07, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Early audiences found the third movement of Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony grotesque, macabre and unsettling. Inspired by an engraving entitled “The Huntsman’s Funeral,” Mahler juxtaposes death with humor, incorporating a popular children's melody—a brilliant touch that still delights and spooks audiences today. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include William Hudgins (Principal Clarinet, Boston Symphony Orchestr...
Jul 07, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In the second movement of his First Symphony, Gustav Mahler draws upon the dance music of his youth. As his mood becomes more exuberant, so too, does the music. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony), Kent Nagano (Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University), Philip V. Bohlman (Universit...
Jul 07, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony is the story of a young man beginning his journey through life. In fact, it is Mahler himself, looking at the world with wide-eyed wonder. Originally, he titled the first movement “Spring Without End,” for its depiction of the joys of nature. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony), Kent Nagano (Montreal Symphony Or...
Jul 07, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Season 1 focuses on Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major (1888), taking listeners back to the work’s origins in the street songs, folk tunes and bugle calls of Mahler’s childhood. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony. Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam; scholars from Columbia University and the University of Chicago; and starring J...
Jun 10, 2020•2 min
