Mozart's Attic Thursday April 13th 10:00 PM

By the turn of the 20th century, Gustav Mahler was readily acknowledged as one of the world’s great conductors, but as a composer, he didn’t find such easy acceptance.
 
He used large musical forces that could be overwhelming to a new listener – and enormously costly for an orchestra manager. His works were often long and impractical to record on 78 RPM discs. It was a challenge for listeners to familiarize themselves with his music – music that also was banned in much of Europe during the Nazi era.
 
The Great Mahler Revival of the second half of the century has restored his reputation, but many listeners still find his music daunting – like a Faulkner novel. The Symphony No. 1, however, is a work that anyone can enjoy. We’ll hear the Solti recording with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this week, and you can see what you think.