39x10 - BBC Proms

Introduced by Jane Glover Tonight's final visit to the 91st season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts is devoted to a single work: Mahler's epic song-cycle, Das Lied von der Erde. This setting of a group of Passionate, delicate and stoical Chinese poems was written in the final years of Mahler's life. Originally conceived as his Ninth Symphony, he superstitiously withdrew the title because so many ninth symphonies had Proved to be their composers final works and he knew he was suffering from a terminal heart condition. Tonight's performers are Jessye Norman (soprano) Jon Vickers (tenor) with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle Sound JOHN CAULFIELD