Mahler: Symphony No. 1

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

what’s truly unique is the marriage of low-level dynamics which inform so much of the work with absolute focus… Every Mahler One should make one reflect on some aspect of the work ’s originality;... — BBC Music Magazine, November 2023, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 8th Sep 2023
Catalogue No: PTC5187043
Label: Pentatone
Length: 55 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

November 2023

Editor's Choice
Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2023
International Classical Music Awards

2024

Nominated - Symphonic Music

In stock

Usually despatched within 1 working day

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major 'Titan'

Work length55:13

Album only

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov

I. Langsam, schleppend - Immer sehr gemächlich

Track length16:39

Album only

II. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell

Track length7:29

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

III. Feierlich Und Gemessen, Ohne Zu Schleppen

Track length10:34

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

IV. Stürmisch Bewegt

Track length20:31

Album only

About
Reviews
Videos
Explore

About

The Czech Philharmonic and Music Director, Semyon Bychkov, continue their acclaimed Mahler cycle with the composer's First Symphony, one of the most evocative and colourful symphonic debuts in the history of the genre. Mahler once famously said that "a symphony should be like the world, it should encompass everything." In his First Symphony, he creates just such a world, filled with animal sounds, hunting horns, rural dances, klezmer bands and allusions to his own songs and folk song melodies such as Frere Jacques. These elements all function within a highly subjective, immersive symphonic drama, providing a blueprint for most of his symphonies to come. Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic approach the composer's firstling with their esteemed eye for detail and pacing, matched by their unmistakably Bohemian sound.

The Czech Philharmonic is one of the world's orchestral gems, recognised for its rich tradition with the Czech masters as well as European repertoire. Semyon Bychkov who is internationally renowned for his interpretations of the core repertoire, began his tenure with the Orchestra at the start of the 2018/19 season. Their recording of Mahler's First Symphony follows Mahler's Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (both 2022) and the Second Symphony (2023), part of the complete Mahler cycle to be released by Pentatone.

Reviews

November 2023

what’s truly unique is the marriage of low-level dynamics which inform so much of the work with absolute focus… Every Mahler One should make one reflect on some aspect of the work ’s originality; this one does so more than most.

November 2023

I can’t think of a lovelier, better-sounding account of this music even if the airiness, civility and control may not always convey the impetuosity of a composer in his twenties. Recommended.

September 2023

The orchestra’s magical combination of richness, precision and nuance is instantly in evidence, with brass and wind pinpoint and the strings characteristically shimmering and sinuous in the opening movement before making merry in Kraftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell. The control and perfection of Bychkov’s pacing in the third movement, and the way his forces combine in Sturmisch Bewegt with such attack one minute and astonishing fluidity the next, epitomises a reading of beauty and depth.

Videos

An error occurred.

Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.

Mahler: Symphony No. 1

CD

Downloads

Contents

Download queue