Mahler Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection'

Mahler’s Second is a work of superlatives: a vast orchestra, two soloists and a chorus, five movements and more than 80 minutes of music. It follows a path from darkness and doubt to redemption. The first movement is a funeral rite. A tender Ländler and an ironic, restless scherzo follow, then the simple faith of “Urlicht”. The finale reaches its climax with an offstage orchestra and the unaccompanied chorus rising pianississimo on “Aufersteh’n, ja aufersteh’n”. Mahler said the text struck him “like a bolt of lightning”. This is a symphony about life, death and the search for meaning. Paavo Järvi has led the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich since 2019, and their Mahler partnership has already won the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik 2025 and an ICMA Award 2026. Here they turn to the “Resurrection” with soprano Mari Eriksmoen, mezzo-soprano Anna Lucia Richter and the Zürcher Sing-Akademie under Florian Helgath. Recorded in November 2025 in the orchestra’s home, the Tonhalle Zürich, it is a full-scale Mahler release from one of the most acclaimed orchestra and conductor pairings of the moment. Mari Eriksmoen, soprano Anna Lucia Richter, mezzo-soprano Zürcher Sing-Akademie Florian Helgath, chorus master Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich Paavo Järvi, music director