• Soloist: Lotte von BarensfeldMarcella Pregi (1866-1958)
  • Conductor: Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
  • Orchestra: Vienna State Opera Orchestra, a total of 130 players
  • Chorus: Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
  • Concert number: c113
  • Notes: Public general rehearsal on 07-04-1899 at 2.30 pm. First complete performance in Vienna. Previously only the 2nd movement had been performed on 03-03-1898, by the Munich Kaim orchestra (Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO)) conducted by Ferdinand Lowe. At the present concert the 4th movement, Urlicht, was encored. The 25-year old Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) attended the performance but was not particularly  impressed by the symphony, which he found faulty in several respects. Therefore a year later he refused to attend the Viennese premiere of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (1900 Concert Vienna 18-11-1900 – Symphony No. 1), exclaiming, according to Alma Mahler, “How can Mahler do anything with the First when he had already failed to do anything with the Second? In her memories Alma Mahler wrongly attributes this incident to the Viennese premiere of Mahlers Fourth at 1902 Concert Vienna 12-01-1902 – Symphony No. 4 as apposed to the First in 11-1900 – which does not make sense. At the time of the concert in question Alma Schindler was on holiday in Italy.

1899 Concert Vienna 09-04-1899 – Symphony No. 2, program. Vienna Philharmonic. First Vienna performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony, conducted by Mahler.

1899 Concert Vienna 09-04-1899 – Symphony No. 2, program. Vienna Philharmonic. First Vienna performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony, conducted by Mahler.

Error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: