In early November 1901 Gustav Mahler met Alma Schindler: he proposed to her three weeks later, and they were married in March 1902, by which time Alma was already carrying their first daughter. Thus Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, composed in 1901-02, bears witness to their new-found love: according to the conductor William Mengelburg the Adagietto was Mahler’s proposal of marriage to Alma, and it remained incredibly important to her - she requested that it was played on the 20th anniversary of his death. Yet the work moves far beyond just this central movement in its emotional scope, from the Funeral March of the first section through the huge Scherzo to the massive finale. Philharmonia Orchestra website.| 21 Jan 10 | Southbank Centre West End, Greater London Performance Details => Venue archive |
