For GusÂtav Mahler’s birthÂday this week, we have Michael Tilson Thomas, direcÂtor of the San FranÂcisÂco SymÂphoÂny … and the YouTube SymÂphoÂny OrchesÂtra, revisÂitÂing the proÂfound impresÂsion Mahler’s music made on his own perÂsonÂal develÂopÂment. He recalls being introÂduced to Das Lied Von Der Erde when he was 13, and it marked an epiphanal dividÂing point in his life. There was life before Mahler, and a new life after. In this relatÂed clip, Leonard BernÂstein, AmerÂiÂca’s great comÂposÂer, offers a perÂsonÂal introÂducÂtion to Das Lied Von Der Erde. You can find more interÂviews with renowned orchesÂtra conÂducÂtors here.
A big thanks to Zoran in Greece for sendÂing these clips our way.
The David ZinÂman interÂview was also fasÂciÂnatÂing.