

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 7, 2021 • 22min
Movement Two – A Sunbeam into Your Soul
Explores Mahler's Second Symphony and its second movement, featuring insights from conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and cellist Carter Brey. Topics discussed include the use of rubato and glissando in Mahler's music, the joyous glissandi for string players, Mahler's creative process, and the incorporation of dance music and Schubertian cantalena.

Jul 7, 2021 • 32min
Movement One – A Burning Denunciation of the Creator
Kent Nagano, Carter Brey, Austin Howle, Matthew McDonald, and Michael Sachs discuss themes of resurrection, transformation, anger towards God, and the meaning of life in Mahler's Second Symphony. The podcast also explores Mahler's use of a large orchestra, climaxes, dissolution, marches, and the influence of Mozart's bass lines in his music.

Jun 23, 2021 • 2min
Season 2 – Rise Again - Mahler's Second Symphony
Season 2 focuses on Mahler’s Second Symphony in C minor (1888-1894), delving into Mahler’s gigantic musical exploration of life, death, and what lies beyond. Each episode is devoted to a movement of the symphony.Guests include conductors Kent Nagano and Michael Tilson Thomas; principal musicians of the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra; scholars from Columbia and Oxford Universities; and starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner.SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=91819874SEE 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 2: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/season2.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, 2020 • 27min
Movement Four – The Battle of Fate
Michael Tilson Thomas, William Hudgins, and Jennifer Montone discuss Gustav Mahler's First Symphony, focusing on the intense battle between hero and fate in the fourth movement. They explore the inspiration behind the violin melody, the autobiographical elements in Mahler's symphony, and his views on triumph in death. The podcast concludes with acknowledgments and information on the performers.

Jul 7, 2020 • 15min
Movement Three – The Huntsman’s Funeral
Early audiences found the third movement of Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony grotesque, macabre and unsettling. Inspired by an engraving entitled “The Huntsman’s Funeral,” Mahler juxtaposes death with humor, incorporating a popular children's melody—a brilliant touch that still delights and spooks audiences today. Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner.Guests include William Hudgins (Principal Clarinet, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Dominic Seldis (Principal Bass, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University), Philip V. Bohlman (University of Chicago), and Christian Glanz (University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna). SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=91819874 SEE 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 1, Episode 3: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/episode3.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, 2020 • 18min
Movement Two – All Music Proceeds from the Dance
In the second movement of his First Symphony, Gustav Mahler draws upon the dance music of his youth. As his mood becomes more exuberant, so too, does the music.Starring James Lurie as the voice of Gustav Mahler and Laura Gragtmans as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner.Guests include Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony), Kent Nagano (Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic), Marilyn McCoy (Columbia University), Philip V. Bohlman (University of Chicago), and Christian Glanz (University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna).SUPPORT US ON PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=91819874SEE 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 1, Episode 2: www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/episode2.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, 2020 • 22min
Movement One – Isn’t This a Splendid World?
Explore Gustav Mahler's first symphony and his connection with nature. Learn about his early years, influences, and composition process. Discover his cycle of songs and the eternal evolution in his music.

Jun 10, 2020 • 2min
Season 1 - Mahler's First Symphony
Take a deep dive into Mahler's Symphony No. 1 as the podcast explores its origins in childhood street songs and bugle calls. Featuring interviews with conductors, musicians, and scholars, each episode focuses on a different movement of the symphony.