Embrace Everything - The World of Gustav Mahler
20 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago -The Embrace Everything podcast series is an exploration and celebration of the music of Gustav Mahler. Throughout his life, Mahler insisted that music had to, literally, embrace everything. This makes his compositions unusually rich in what they offer both audience and musicians. Each season explores a different Mahler symphony and includes interviews with leading conductors, music scholars and musicians. Additionally, Mahler’s own words and those of his contemporaries are read by actors.
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Episodes
Mahler & the Maestro
January 30, 2024 19:33 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBLeonard Bernstein had an affinity for the music of Gustav Mahler, as seen in the climax of the Oscar-nominated 2023 Netflix film “Maestro.” In this special episode, we explore what the two musicians had in common, and learn how Bernstein brought Mahler back into the spotlight in the 1960s. Guests include Jamie Bernstein (Leonard Bernstein's daughter) and Gabe Smith (Archivist for the New York Philharmonic). WATCH THIS EPISODE WITH ARCHIVAL IMAGES FROM THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC: h...
Movement Six - What Love Tells Me
January 31, 2023 04:31 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBIn the sixth and final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony, he reaches the top rung on his ladder of consciousness. This glorious adagio is Mahler’s celebration of God’s perfect love. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voice of Gustav Th...
Movement Five - What the Angels Tell Me
January 23, 2023 13:52 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBAngels are the next step on Gustav Mahler’s ladder of consciousness. In the joyful fifth movement of his Third Symphony, the orchestra is joined by a children’s choir and a women’s choir giving voice to the angels. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include James Burton (Choral Director, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Megan and Hannah Laurence (Choristers, Boston...
Movement Four - What Humanity Tells Me
January 16, 2023 18:14 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBIn the fourth movement of his Third Symphony, Gustav Mahler’s ladder of consciousness reaches humanity. It is a dramatic orchestral song for mezzo soprano that explores the meaning of existence, with lyrics from Nietzsche’s book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.” Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Caroline K...
Movement Three - What the Animals in the Forest Tell Me
January 09, 2023 13:55 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBGustav Mahler made animals the next step upward on his ladder of consciousness in the third movement of his Third Symphony. Summoning both humor and tragedy, he portrays the sounds of the forest, from sweetly singing nightingales to fearsome creatures. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voi...
Movement Two - What the Flowers in the Meadow Tell Me
December 08, 2022 14:49 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBIn the second movement of his Third Symphony, Gustav Mahler begins the upward journey on the ladder of consciousness. He considers flowers the first step and portrays them in musically charming ways. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voice of Gustav Theodor Fechner Guests include Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Ro...
Movement One - Pan Awakes and Summer Marches In
December 05, 2022 19:19 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBGustav Mahler’s Third Symphony is the story of creation, with each movement a higher rung on the ladder of consciousness. It begins with lifeless matter and the struggle for life to emerge, portrayed as a musical battle between winter and summer. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Kent Nagano (General Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera, ...
Season 3 - "My Joyful Science" - Mahler's Third Symphony
November 22, 2022 02:22 - 2 minutes - 2.4 MBSeason 3 focuses on Mahler’s Third Symphony in D minor (1895-1896), exploring Mahler’s unique perspective on the different orders of being, from lifeless matter to highest consciousness. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony. Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Royal Concer...
Movement Five – With Wings I’ve Won for Myself
July 07, 2021 14:41 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBMahler described the last movement of his Second Symphony, which includes two soloists and a chorus, as a colossal fresco of The Day of Judgement. All of humanity meets its maker, and Mahler stretches his musical wings, soaring to glorious heights. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Kent Nagano, (Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic; Montreal Sy...
Movement Four – O Little Red Rose
July 07, 2021 14:40 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe fourth movement of Mahler’s Second Symphony is a delicate song for mezzo-soprano and orchestra. It’s a turning point in the symphony, where the protagonist’s spiritual wisdom blossoms. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Michael Sachs (Principal Trumpet, Cleveland Orchestra), Marilyn McCoy...
Movement Three – Never Did a Sermon So Please the Fish
July 07, 2021 14:40 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBIn the summer of 1893, Mahler wrote a song, entitled “St. Anthony of Padua’s Sermon to the Fish.” It turned out so well, he incorporated melodies from it into the third movement of his Second Symphony. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner. Guests include Kent Nagano (Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic; Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Carter Brey (Principal Cello,...
Movement Two – A Sunbeam into Your Soul
July 07, 2021 14:39 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBFor his Second Symphony, Mahler created a second movement he described as a memory, “a ray of sunlight, pure and cloudless, out of the hero’s life.” The music is bittersweet. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (New World Symphony; San Francisco Symphony; London Symphony Orchestra), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Matthew Aucoin (Composer/Conductor), D.D. Jackson (Jazz Pianist/Composer), and Marilyn McCoy (...
Movement One – A Burning Denunciation of the Creator
July 07, 2021 14:38 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBMahler’s Second Symphony begins with the funeral for the hero of his First Symphony. The dramatic music rages with sorrow and anger...but also hope, for life after death. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler. Guests include Kent Nagano (Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Austin Howle (Principal Tuba, Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Matthew McDonald (Principal Bass, Berlin Philharmonic), Michael Sachs (Principal ...
Season 2 – Rise Again - Mahler's Second Symphony
June 23, 2021 14:36 - 2 minutes - 2.11 MBSeason 2 focuses on Mahler’s Second Symphony in C minor (1888-1894), delving into Mahler’s gigantic musical exploration of life, death, and what lies beyond. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony. Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra; scholars from Columbia and Oxford Universities; and starring James Luri...
Movement Four – The Battle of Fate
July 07, 2020 00:26 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBGustav Mahler originally titled his First Symphony “Titan,” because of the mighty struggle between his hero and fate, a monumental battle that reaches its climax in the fourth movement. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony), William Hudgins (Principal Clarinet, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Jennifer Montone (Principal Horn, Philad...
Movement Three – The Huntsman’s Funeral
July 07, 2020 00:18 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBEarly audiences found the third movement of Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony grotesque, macabre and unsettling. Inspired by an engraving entitled “The Huntsman’s Funeral,” Mahler juxtaposes death with humor, incorporating a popular children's melody—a brilliant touch that still delights and spooks audiences today. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include William Hudgins (Principal Clarinet, Boston S...
Movement Two – All Music Proceeds from the Dance
July 07, 2020 00:12 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBIn the second movement of his First Symphony, Gustav Mahler draws upon the dance music of his youth. As his mood becomes more exuberant, so too, does the music. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony), Kent Nagano (Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University), Philip V. Boh...
Movement One – Isn’t This a Splendid World?
July 07, 2020 00:07 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBGustav Mahler’s First Symphony is the story of a young man beginning his journey through life. In fact, it is Mahler himself, looking at the world with wide-eyed wonder. Originally, he titled the first movement “Spring Without End,” for its depiction of the joys of nature. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner. Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony), Kent Nagano (Mont...
Season 1 - Mahler's First Symphony
June 10, 2020 15:25 - 2 minutes - 2.14 MBSeason 1 focuses on Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major (1888), taking listeners back to the work’s origins in the street songs, folk tunes and bugle calls of Mahler’s childhood. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony. Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam; scholars from Columbia University and the University of Chicago; ...
Introducing Embrace Everything - The World of Gustav Mahler
June 10, 2020 15:25 - 2 minutes - 2.07 MBSeason 1 focuses on Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major (1888), taking listeners back to the work’s origins in the street songs, folk tunes and bugle calls of Mahler’s childhood. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony. Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam; and scholars from Columbia University and the University of Chica...