Minnesota Orchestra/Vanska - Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1

Mahler's first symphony, which the composer originally gave the subtitle �Titan�, borrows extensively from the song cycle Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. But Mahler also incorporates elements of Moravian popular music (in the second movement) and � in the slow third movement � famously quotes a minor-mode version of the children�s rhyme Bruder Martin (also known as Fr�re Jacques). The finale transports the listener to a world of Gothic theatricality reminiscent of Grand Opera, before arriving � after a number of false starts �at the symphony�s heroic chorale-like ending. This symphonic �world-in-microcosm� is here brought to life by the Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo V�nsk� on the fourth instalment in a series which has earned the team the description �among the finest exponents of Mahler�s music� on the website allmusic.com.