The central place of the Resurrection Symphony in Mahler’s career, musically and biographically, is brought out vividly by Benjamin Zander in the riveting lecture-recital that, as is his wont, the British-born American conductor adds to this recording on the third CD. The richly coloured performance, by a Philharmonia on top form, bears out many of Zander’s points, not least the vital importance in Mahler of a clarity of texture in which every line is audible. His argument for a slower than usual tempo in the spectral scherzo is also vindicated. The British mezzo Sarah Connolly is the eloquent soloist in ‘Urlicht’. Essential listening.

Click here to listen to Mahler’s Symphony no. 2.