| Music
'The Song of the Earth'

This song cycle in symphony format was the last work of the composer and conductor Gustav Mahler (Bohemia, 1860-Vienna 1911). It is distributed in six movements - each one is a separate song-and was written for two solo voices (tenor and alto or baritone) and orchestra. It is a work full of drama where Mahler expresses all his concerns, beliefs and dreams.

The Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951), a friend of Mahler and also of Jewish origin, began the arrangements of Das Lied von der Erde  (The Song of the Earth) for chamber orchestra, composed by a string quintet and another of wind instruments, three percussionists, piano, celesta and harmonium.

The German composer Reiner Rihm was commissioned to finish the job and the work was premiered in 1983. This adaptation is what we hear in this concert of the 2014-2015 Season of la Fundació Studium Aureum.

Carles Ponseti directs this concert which also involved Toni Aragon (tenor) and Waltraud Bucher (mezzo-soprano).

Half an hour before the concert, the composer Mercè Pons will give a talk about the works and life of of both composers.