Like most of us, Mahler needed a change of scenery to take a break from his regular job. Fortunately for him, he had access to a cabin in the Alps surrounded by the bluest of lakes, the greenest of trees, and the most majestic of mountains. They proved the perfect inspiration for his Third Symphony, which set out to encompass all of nature itself, at its most wild, dangerous, delicate, and beautiful.
When a visitor stopped to admire his view, Mahler told him "You don't need to look. I have composed all this already!"
The symphony begins with Pan marching alongside his friend Summer, which is a perfect way to close our season as summer approaches our city. The opening movement begins with a call from the horn section, almost as if to say "pay attention — your life is about to be changed dramatically!" It follows with words from a poem by Nietzsche:
O Man! Take heed!
What does the deep midnight say?
'I was asleep, asleep —,
I have awoken from deep dreams:
Follow along on this glorious dream ride through Mahler's Third Symphony and celebrate your Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's 2021/22 season.
Livestream
Enjoy the music of the ASO under the stars with a free livestream watch party of the June 11 concert on the Woodruff Arts Center's Sifly Piazza. The performances will also be livestreamed online at aso.org/livestream and the Orchestra's Facebook and YouTube channels.
Learn More
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE will no longer require patrons to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for most events in Symphony Hall. In addition, masks will be encouraged, but no longer required. More details are available on our Health & Safety page.
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