Between melancholy and hunger for life: Gustav Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" can be heard in the Tonhalle St. Gallen - a deeply personal work about transience, consolation and the quiet beauty of farewell.
It was probably the most personal thing he had ever done, said Gustav Mahler about Das Lied von der Erde. In this cycle of six orchestral songs, he set to music adaptations of ancient Chinese poems about life, death and eternity, in which he expressed what was on his mind at the time - a time of personal tragedy. First he resigned as director of the Vienna Court Opera following anti-Jewish resentment against him, then his four-year-old daughter died suddenly and unexpectedly. And as if he had foreseen his own death even before the premiere of his last completed composition, the last song is entitled Abschied (Farewell). Nevertheless, for all its tragedy, Das Lied von der Erde is music of consolation, like a final declaration of love to life.
February 12 and 13, 2026
