Symphony No. 2 in C minor, also known as the Resurrection Symphony, was completed in 1894 by Austro-Bohemian composer Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911). This symphony was one of Mahler's most popular and successful works during his lifetime. The resources required are massive: huge orchestra, soprano and alto soloists, chorus, and organ, matching the epic theme of death and resurrection. For many classical music listeners, this is their favourite Mahler work. I love it (obviously, given its presence here), but there are five works of his that I rate even higher. The average playing time is 80 minutes (AllMusic). I have over a dozen versions, with no clear front-runner; to acknowledge his excellent Mahler symphony cycle, I have opted for the Vienna Philharmonic and Choir under Pierre Boulez, with Christine Schäfer and Michelle DeYoung, on a Deutsche Grammophon CD.
