

Embrace Everything - The World of Gustav Mahler
Aaron Cohen
The Embrace Everything podcast series is an exploration and celebration of the music of Gustav Mahler. Throughout his life, Mahler insisted that music had to, literally, embrace everything. This makes his compositions unusually rich in what they offer both audience and musicians. Each season explores a different Mahler symphony and includes interviews with leading conductors, music scholars and musicians. Additionally, Mahler’s own words and those of his contemporaries are read by actors.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 9, 2025 • 32min
Movement Three - St. Ursula's Smile (S4, Ep.3)
In the third movement of his Fourth Symphony, Mahler introduces a different kind of humor, one that inspires both laughter and tears at the same time.Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Dominic Comperatore as the voice of Bruno Walter, Dan Barnett as the voice of Jean Paul Richter, Jack Berenholtz as the voice of Paul Bekker, and Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer.Guests include William Henry Curry (Music Director, Durham Symphony Orchestra), Kent Nagano (General Music Director, Hamburg State Opera), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), D.D. Jackson (Jazz Pianist and Composer), Anthony McGill (Principal Clarinet, New York Philharmonic), Paul Merkelo (Principal Trumpet, Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Paul Fleming (Cornell University, Ithaca), Caroline Kita (Washington University in St. Louis), Ioannis Konstantakos (University of Athens, Greece), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University, New York) and Joanna Neilly, (Oxford University, England).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEPISODE LINK:Season 4, Episode 3: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/s4e3.htmlEMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITE:www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jul 8, 2025 • 26min
Movement Two - Freund Hein Strikes Up the Dance (S4, Ep.2)
In the second movement of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, we begin our journey toward heaven. But the path is going to take some surprising twists. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Dominic Comperatore as the voice of Bruno Walter, Jack Berenholtz as the voice of Paul Bekker, and Dan Barnett as the voice of Jean Paul Richter.Guests include William Henry Curry (Music Director, Durham Symphony Orchestra), Marina Mahler (Granddaughter of Gustav Mahler and President of the Mahler Foundation), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Juliette Kang (First Associate Concertmaster, Philadelphia Orchestra), Anthony McGill (Principal Clarinet, New York Philharmonic), D.D. Jackson (Jazz Pianist and Composer), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University, New York), and Joanna Neilly (Oxford University, England).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEPISODE LINK:Season 4, Episode 2: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/s4e2.htmlEMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITE:www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jul 7, 2025 • 37min
Movement One - Mahler's Laughter (S4, Ep.1)
Mahler’s Fourth Symphony is his most playful composition, and one that he originally called a “Symphonic Humoresque.” In the first movement, we hear a side of Mahler we haven’t heard before.Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Dominic Comperatore as the voice of Bruno Walter, Jack Berenholtz as the voice of Paul Bekker, Dan Barnett as the voice of Jean Paul Richter, Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner, David Rapkin as the voice of E.T.A. Hoffmann, and P.J. Ochlan as the voice of Alfred Roller.Guests include Sir Simon Rattle (Chief Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony), Kent Nagano (General Music Director, Hamburg State Opera), William Henry Curry (Music Director, Durham Symphony Orchestra), Marina Mahler (Granddaughter of Gustav Mahler and President of the Mahler Foundation), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Paul Merkelo (Principal Trumpet, Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Emmanuel Pahud (Principal Flute, Berlin Philharmonic), Richard Woodhams (Former Principal Oboe, Philadelphia Orchestra), Cynthia Yeh (Principal Percussion, Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Paul Fleming (Cornell University, Ithaca), and Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University, New York).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEPISODE LINK:Season 4, Episode 1: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/s4e1.htmlEMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITE:www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jul 3, 2025 • 10min
Special Episode: The Mahler Family Album
In this special episode, Marina Mahler talks about publishing a family photo album that belonged to her grandmother, Alma Mahler. You can see more details and order a copy here:https://www.themahlerfamily.com/

Jul 2, 2025 • 3min
Season 4 - "The Heavenly Life" - Mahler's Fourth Symphony
Season 4 focuses on Mahler’s Fourth Symphony in G major (1899-1900), which charts the journey of the soul from its earthly life to a heavenly one. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony, followed by a concluding historical episode devoted to the reception of the Fourth Symphony when it premiered in 1901.Guests include conductors Sir Simon Rattle, Kent Nagano, and William Henry Curry; principal musicians of the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, and the Berlin Philharmonic; scholars from Columbia University, Cornell University, Oxford University and the University of Athens in Greece; and starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, and Dominic Comperatore as the voice of Bruno Walter.SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITEwww.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jan 30, 2024 • 28min
Special Episode: Mahler & the Maestro
Leonard Bernstein had an affinity for the music of Gustav Mahler, as seen in the climax of the Oscar-nominated 2023 Netflix film “Maestro.” In this special episode, we explore what the two musicians had in common, and learn how Bernstein brought Mahler back into the spotlight in the 1960s.Guests include Jamie Bernstein (Leonard Bernstein's daughter) and Gabe Smith (Archivist for the New York Philharmonic).WATCH THIS EPISODE WITH ARCHIVAL IMAGES FROM THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9rvceUsDnAWEBSITE LINK:Embrace Everything Website: www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgSUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jan 31, 2023 • 38min
Movement Six - What Love Tells Me (S3, Ep.6)
In the sixth and final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony, he reaches the top rung on his ladder of consciousness. This glorious adagio is Mahler’s celebration of God’s perfect love.Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voice of Gustav Theodor FechnerGuests include Kent Nagano (General Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera, and Chief Conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra ), Michael Tilson Thomas (Music Director Laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra, and Artistic Director Laureate of the New World Symphony), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Bill Hudgins (Principal Clarinet, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Christopher Martin (Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic), Caroline Kita (Washington University in St. Louis), Ioannis Konstantakos (University of Athens, Greece ), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University, New York), and Joanna Neilly (Oxford University, England).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEPISODE LINKS:Season 3, Episode 6: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/s3e6.htmlEmbrace Everything Website: www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jan 23, 2023 • 16min
Movement Five - What the Angels Tell Me (S3, Ep.5)
Angels are the next step on Gustav Mahler’s ladder of consciousness. In the joyful fifth movement of his Third Symphony, the orchestra is joined by a children’s choir and a women’s choir giving voice to the angels.Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner.Guests include James Burton (Choral Director, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Megan and Hannah Laurence (Choristers, Boston Symphony Orchestra Children’s Chorus), Eamonn Greiner (Chorister, Saint Paul's Boys' Choir, Boston), Caroline Kita (Washington University in St. Louis), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University, New York), and Joanna Neilly (Oxford University, England).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEPISODE LINKS:Season 3, Episode 5: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/s3e5.htmlEmbrace Everything Website: www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jan 16, 2023 • 28min
Movement Four - What Humanity Tells Me (S3, Ep.4)
In the fourth movement of his Third Symphony, Gustav Mahler’s ladder of consciousness reaches humanity. It is a dramatic orchestral song for mezzo soprano that explores the meaning of existence, with lyrics from Nietzsche’s book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.”Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Robert Fass as the voice of Siegfried Lipiner.Guests include Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Caroline Kita (Washington University in St. Louis), Ioannis Konstantakos (University of Athens, Greece), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University, New York) and Joanna Neilly (Oxford University, England).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEPISODE LINKS:Season 3, Episode 4: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/s3e4.htmlEmbrace Everything Website: www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jan 9, 2023 • 34min
Movement Three - What the Animals in the Forest Tell Me (S3, Ep.3)
Gustav Mahler made animals the next step upward on his ladder of consciousness in the third movement of his Third Symphony. Summoning both humor and tragedy, he portrays the sounds of the forest, from sweetly singing nightingales to fearsome creatures.Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler, Paul Hecht as the voice of Friedrich Nietzsche, Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Billy Lyons as the voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Gary Tiedemann as the voice of Gustav Theodor FechnerGuests include Kent Nagano (General Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera, and Chief Conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra ), Carter Brey (Principal Cello, New York Philharmonic), Bill Hudgins (Principal Clarinet, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Christopher Martin (Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic, Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University, New York), and Joanna Neilly (Oxford University, England).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSEE THE NEW EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG ON OUR SUPPORT PAGE:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFOR A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION, SUPPORT US ON FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.orgEPISODE LINKS:Season 3, Episode 3: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/s3e3.htmlEmbrace Everything Website: www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7


