Mahler's Fifth engenders descriptions such as 'monumental'.
Turbulent and angry, peaceful and plaintive in turn, Mahler wrote this
symphony while romancing Alma Schindler and they became engaged shortly
after it was completed. The sense of resolution seems to have hopped
across from Mahler's personal life in to his composition.
Abbado's performance with the Berlin Philharmonic continues to set the
standard, although some may prefer the Vienna Philharmonic and Rattle's
2002 debut with the BPO has recently added another performance worthy of
consideration, Abbado's interpretation sets the standard for the Fifth.
Also
included in one of our boxed set recommendations
