program notes

GUSTAV MAHLER
(1860–1911)

Mahler was born in 1860 in a small Bohemian town now known as Kaliste in the Czech Republic. He was the second of fourteen children in a Jewish family, and his early years were marked by both poverty and the cultural richness of his environment. Mahler's childhood was marred by tragedy, as several of his siblings did not survive infancy, and his parents struggled with economic hardships. Despite these challenges, his parents recognized his early musical talent and supported his musical education. In his formative years, Mahler studied piano and composition and later attended the Vienna Conservatory, where he honed his skills as a composer and conductor.

Symphony No.2, also known as the "Resurrection" Symphony, confronts existential questions, mortality, and the human condition, delivering powerful and cathartic experiences for both performers and audiences. These themes, as with many of Mahler’s compositions, were motivated by his childhood experiences, including the deaths of his close family members and life in Central Europe in the late 19th century.