Mahler between Irony and Transcendence: the First and Fourth Symphonies in Dialogue
Gustav Mahler’s symphonic universe is a theatre of the soul, where sarcasm and wonder, the everyday and the visionary, the fragment and the whole coexist. This event, curated by Enzo Restagno, offers a talk with readings exploring two landmark works—the First and the Fourth Symphonies—tracing both their contrasts and their inner connections.
On the one hand, a strong narrative impulse and a wide range of expressive registers; on the other, a transparency that can open onto a “transcendent” dimension, without relinquishing ambiguity and irony. An opportunity to navigate Mahler’s musical language, recognise its recurring features, and approach a more conscious listening experience, through a journey that brings together critical insight and literary imagination.
