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Gustav Mahler: brilliant, fiery and tyrannical – leader of some the most prestigious musical institutions of his era – fought battles his whole life. He clashed with his colleagues, scrapped with critics and wrestled endlessly with his own desires and ambitions. This week, Kate Molleson navigates us through his many personal and professional struggles, and follows Mahler to the countryside hideaways where he sought (not always successfully) to escape the drama of his everyday life. Here, among the lakes and mountains, Mahler also found space to compose and he poured the whole world into his music in all its ugliness, mundanity and transcendent beauty.

Today, Kate brings us to Steinbach in Upper Austria where Maher’s musings on the nature of existence found expression in his second and third symphonies

Symphony No. 3, III. Comodo (Scherzando) (extract)
Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel

Symphony No. 1 'Titan': II. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle

Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection': II. Andante moderato
Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado

Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection': III. In ruhig fliessender Bewegung
London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski

Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection', V. Im Tempo des Scherzos (extract)
Arleen Auger, soprano
Dame Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle