About Gustav Mahler and Symphony No. 1 in D major, “Titan”:

Gustav Mahler (1860 –1911) was born in Jihlava, in the modern-day Czech Republic. He was a leading conductor of his generation whose work acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-Germany tradition and the modernism of the 20th century.

Mahler’s music clearly speaks the language of 19th-century romanticism, but his symphonies transcend historical periods and continue to have appeal due largely to their unabashed ambitiousness. His sprawling canvases portray the sum of human experience: abandonment, despair, joy, and redemption — “the whole world,” as the composer often said.

Composed in 1987 and 1888, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major was premièred at the Vigadó Concert Hall in Budapest, Hungary, in 1889, but was not well-received. In a revised version, Mahler wrote a program suggesting that the music described Jean Paul Richter’s novel, Titan, in which the main character strives to lead a passionate, noble, and heroic life—ideals with which Mahler greatly identified. Modern performances and recordings still give the work the title “Titan,” even though Mahler only used this label for the second and third performances, and never after the work had reached its definitive four-movement form in 1896.

Mahler conducted more performances of this symphony than of any of his later works and it now regarded as one of the most impressive and audacious first symphonies ever written, with over 150 available recordings.

About the Vanderbilt University Orchestra:

The Vanderbilt University Orchestra focuses on the highest-quality performance of canonical classical romantic and 20th-century works, with additional repertoire drawn eclectically from a wide range of periods and styles. Students become immersed in the stylistic demands of particular composers and periods, while honing their skills as ensemble players. Commercial recordings and collaborations with guest composers and other artists are important components of the ensemble’s activities.