Mahler: Symphony No. 9

Themes of resignation and acceptance of fate run through Mahler’s final complete symphony—a masterpiece of epic proportions, both in length and emotional scope. Daniel Harding leads the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in a tightly choreographed, virtuosic performance. The luminescent opening Andante ebbs and flows in and out of one glorious climax after another, while the demonic Rondo-Burleske’s swirling counterpoint showcases the orchestra’s responsive, tight ensemble and technical brilliance. The final, 26-minute Adagio, the symphony’s emotional core and one of Mahler’s most sublime creations, is played with profound tenderness.