Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony will mainly owe its position as 'most famous Mahler symphony' to the all too popular Adagietto, which not only became known as film music in De Dood In Venice, but which was also played during the funeral of president Kennedy. However, if we are to believe a testimony of Willem Mengelberg, Mahler would have written this music around 1901 as a kind of proposal for his
… beloved Alma. This puts this intense music in a completely different light. Either way, this highly original symphony has more to offer than the Adagietto. Very fascinating is also the central Scherzo with its virtuoso horn solo, or the elaborate finale, which largely elaborates on the previous Adagietto. (HJ)more
