Bernstein conducts Mahler: Symphony No. 3 (1972) – with Christa Ludwig

According to its original movement titles, Gustav Mahler's Third Symphony was intended to tell successively of summer, flowers, animals, angels, people and love. Even though the composer later withdrew this programme, as a world-spanning spiritual journey offering a pantheistic vision, the work continues to captivate its audience – especially when, as here, it is performed by a dream team of Mahler interpretation: Leonard Bernstein conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker, while mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig, one of the conductor's closest artistic partners, features in a deeply felt interpretation of the fourth movement's Nietzsche setting.

Soloist: 

Christa Ludwig (Contralto)

Ensembles: 

Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Sängerknaben

Conductor: 

Leonard Bernstein