Kindertotenlieder (Gustav Mahler)

00:00 (2) Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
04:50 (4) Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen
Gustav Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children) are well-known for being among the repertoire's saddest songs. Mahler's entire work is focused on life and death, as this is the most important philosophical question for him. He also experienced the death of six of his siblings during his childhood.
In Friedrich Rückert, he finds a poetic voice that matches his musical voice and engages with the same topics.
This recording is from my final undergraduate recital at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.