The SFS and MTT present Mahler's Symphony No.2 "Resurrection", recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall at concerts of June 23-26, 2004. Mahler's seconde is one of the great epics of the symphonic repertory, tracing a path from purgatorial terror to a vision of heaven. This massive work features the San Francisco Symphony, SFS Chorus, and internationally acclaimed soloists Isabel Bayrakdarian and Lorraine Hunt Liberson. The second was Mahler's favourite symphonic poem to bear the hero of Mahler's recently-completed Symphony No.1 to his grave. The middle movements were penned in the summer of 1893 and reflected his fascination with the medieval folk poetry which provided the texts for most of his songs. While attending conductor Hans von Bulow's funeral, Mahler was moved by the emotional power of a children's choir singing Friedrich Klopstock's "Aufersteh'n" ("Resurrection Ode"). Seized with inspiration, Mahler added his own apocalyptic and cathartic verses to the ode and put the finishing touches on his symphony.