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Theme Month

Listen each month as we put the spotlight on a different aspect of classical music.

Each month, Classical WETA 90.9 FM selects a month long focus. Throughout the month, we will feature music related to our selection throughout the daily playlist and in our regular features, including Choral Showcase and Theme Weekends.

Check back each month to learn more!

 

Classical WETA

Listen for special features each month!

Gustav Mahler Month

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler was a challenge. He was widely recognized as one of the best conductors of his time (1860–1911), having conducting positions at various European opera houses, including the prestigious Vienna State Opera, as well as the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic. But his music, for which we primarily remember him today, was generally not understood or appreciated during his lifetime.

As Mahler predicted, though, we do have a better understanding of his work today. But still, challenges continue. Fully grasping the messages in his music is not so easy. Assembling the large forces and scheduling the long rehearsals needed to perform his pieces is never easy. Plus — and facing us right now — is the odd juxtaposition of his birth and death anniversaries: the 150th anniversary of his birth next year and the 100th anniversary of his death in 2011.

Like many Mahler symphonies that present complexities followed ultimately by triumphant resolutions in their finales, we finally decided to seize the moment and just do it. Right now. So, we at Classical WETA 90.9 FM invite you to celebrate Mahler with us throughout November — of this year. We’ll schedule complete cycles of his symphonies and song cycles this month on Classical WETA (noting that the dividing line between those two groups is often unclear). Enjoy!

Today's Theme Month Selections

9:06 am: Gustav Mahler: Symphony #6 in A Minor

4:03 pm: Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

9:00 pm: Gustav Mahler: Symphony #8

Mahler's Symphonies on Classical WETA

During Mahler Month, we will broadcast three complete cycles of the symphonies—one during each of the first three weeks of November (up to Thanksgiving week). The first week is the American Cycle where the various conductors or orchestras (or both) are American. The second week of Mahler symphonies is the international cycle, also with various conductors and orchestras. And the third week is all by Michael Gielen and the Southwest German Radio Symphony.

Week 1, American Cycle
Tuesday, November 3
Symphony #3 (Los Angeles Philharmonic/Esa-Pekka Salonen)

Wednesday, November 4
Symphony #1 (Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink)

Thursday, November 5
Symphony #4 (Los Angeles Philharmonic/Esa-Pekka Salonen)
Symphony #10 (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Jesús López-Cobos)

Friday, November 6
Symphony #5 (Vienna Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein)

Saturday, November 7
Symphony #6 (Philadelphia Orchestra/Christoph Eschenbach)
Das Lied von der Erde (San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas)
Symphony #8 (Vienna Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein)

Sunday, November 8
Symphony #2 (San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas)
Symphony #7 (Cleveland Orchestra/Pierre Boulez)
Symphony #9 (San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas)

More on Mahler in our blog!

Classical WETA's classical critic-at-large, Jens Laursen will be weighing in frequently during Mahler Month via his blog. He is an avid Mahler scholar and has provided helpful assistance in compiling the recordings we're featuring this month.

Visit blog »