Mahler's Symphony No. 7 in E minor

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
National Symphony Orchestra

Recorded at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.

NSO - NSO0022, and NSO0022-D for digital downloads


This is a glorious, fresh account of Mahler's Symphony No. 7 in E minor with Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra. Recorded live, the work known unofficially as the Song of the Night journeys through contrasting worlds – night and day, darkness and light, melancholy and exuberance – blending poetic dreamscapes with irony, humour and Rabelaisian verve.

"It's always difficult for me to decide which work stands out among Mahler's symphonies," Noseda admits. "Whenever I conduct one, I tend to feel that that particular symphony is the greatest. After recording the Seventh, with the superb artistry of the NSO musicians, I formed a special bond with it. For the moment, the Seventh holds a very dear place in my heart."

That affection shows. Similar to his recent Shostakovich cycle, Noseda has thoroughly explored the score, meticulously communicating every nuance. He understands Mahler's superb orchestration and wonderful harmonic language, drawing out moments of particular beauty from music composed between 1904 and 1906. The work's rich scoring – featuring mandolin, guitar, almglocken and expanded percussion – adds both poetry and playfulness, while its five movements form a unifying arch structure (A-B-C-B-A) that balances traditional forms with imaginative reinvention.

The NSO captures the movement from darkness to light with brilliance; all departments contribute to the different moods. Strings and brass shine particularly, though the percussion deserves special mention. It's a compelling performance, especially the enigmatic finale – a movement with so much going on that the energetic virtuosity of the orchestra barely keeps pace. Chimes and cowbells herald that glorious, epic and exhilarating final chord, culminating in pure Dionysian revelry.