Mahler's 'Resurrection' Manuscript: A Conductor's Close Reading

Franz Welser-Möst, the longtime music director of the Cleveland Orchestra, was moved to tears when the original handwritten manuscript of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 ('Resurrection') was donated to the orchestra a few years ago. In a recent feature by The New York Times, Welser-Möst guides a reporter and readers through three pages of the manuscript that he finds particularly fascinating. The manuscript, a significant cultural artifact, offers a unique glimpse into Mahler's creative process. Welser-Möst's commentary highlights the nuances of the score, from marginal notes to corrections, providing insight into the composer's intentions. The Cleveland Orchestra's acquisition of the manuscript underscores its commitment to preserving and studying major works of the classical repertoire. The feature, published on August 11, 2026, in The New York Times, brings attention to the intersection of music history and performance practice, as Welser-Möst's interpretations are informed by his close study of the original source.