Mahler Symphony No 4 Synfrancisco Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas 2003 Lossless New |work| Jun 2026

This recording is part of the larger , a series that has collectively won seven Grammy Awards. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org

As the music moved from the playful, naive first movement into the darker, more sinister second—marked Freundlich (friendly) but often feeling like a macabre dance—Elias felt the goosebumps rise on his arms. MTT’s interpretation was distinct. He didn’t treat Mahler as a heavy, ponderous weight, but as a fragile, beautiful thing that could shatter at any moment. This recording is part of the larger ,

The San Francisco Symphony's woodwind section—particularly the sleigh bells, oboes, and flutes in the opening—can be heard in distinct physical space. You can easily map the layout of the stage with your eyes closed. He didn’t treat Mahler as a heavy, ponderous

The second movement, a scherzo titled Freund Hein spielt auf (Friend Death strikes up), introduces a macabre dance. The concertmaster is called upon to retune their violin to sound harsher and more eerie, representing the dance of death. The San Francisco Symphony’s strings handle this transition with aplomb, creating a texture that is unsettling yet undeniably virtuosic. MTT navigates the shifting moods—from the ghostly to the grotesque—with a deft hand, ensuring the irony lands without overwhelming the music’s lyricism. The second movement, a scherzo titled Freund Hein