Search - Gustav Mahler, Adrian Leaper, Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra :: Mahler: Symphony No. 1 "Titan"

After the cool reception of Gustav Mahler?s First Symphony (Budapest, 1889), he put it away for three years, eventually reworking it for a later performance in Hamburg in 1893. Because the Budapest autograph has been lost, an exact comparison of the two versions will probably remain unlikely. We know that the significant changes include a new instrumentation. Also, the work was reduced from five movements to two, the original second movement, marked "Blumine" ("Flowers"), being struck out. This recording does not include it, in deference to the composer?s wishes. The Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, which has been in existence since 1845, was remolded into the form it has today thanks to public funding made available in 1980. The orchestra has gained an outstanding international reputation as a symphony and opera orchestra: it is a permanent guest at well-known festivals in Europe and has worked with such soloists as Alfredo Kraus, Placido Domingo, Montserrat Caballé, Mischa Maisky, Sabine Meyer, and Maria João Pires. Since the 1994 season, Adrian Leaper has been Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the orchestra.