• Tracks

Following recent releases named as Gramophone Editor's Choice, Sunday Times Album of the Week, and MusicWeb Recording of the Month, the Hallé turns to the work of Gustav Mahler. Begun in 1909 in the composer's idyllic Austrian mountain retreat, at a time when Mahler was preoccupied by thoughts of his own mortality, his last completed symphony has been described as his most death-haunted work. Scored for forces that are modest, by Mahlerian standards, this extended work is characterized by it's unusual construction, often soloistic orchestral writing, evocative use of keys, and haunting use of motives and references to traditional Austrian folk dance. A valuable addition to the Hallé canon of great symphonies!