

Embrace Everything - The World of Gustav Mahler
Aaron Cohen
The Embrace Everything podcast series is an exploration and celebration of the music of Gustav Mahler. Throughout his life Mahler insisted that music had to, literally, embrace everything. This makes his compositions unusually rich in what they offer both audience and musicians. It’s often delightfully quirky one moment and then deeply tragic the next. Mahler did not shy away from introducing the most low-brow, commonplace musical tune alongside the most radiantly sublime words in all of spiritual literature. Gustav Mahler meant what he said: music has to embrace everything.Each season of the series explores a different Mahler symphony. The series already includes more than 100 interviews with leading conductors, music scholars, and orchestral musicians—all of whom have extensive first-hand experience with the music, offering an abundance of insights into just what makes Mahler’s music so unique. Additionally, comments from Mahler and his contemporaries are read by actors throughout the programs. Each episode explores how Mahler drew not just from the world of music but from the other arts, from the world of nature, and from life itself. Anything that attracted Mahler’s attention was liable to find its way into the music. How did he do this? That’s something each episode investigates.Interviews thus far include members of the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra.Embrace Everything has topped podcast charts around the world. The series reached #1 on the Apple Music Commentary, Music History, or Music charts in more than 25 countries and has won 15 international awards in the last three years.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 19, 2026 • 3min
Mahler in Colorado
Colorado Mahlerfest 39 is coming up! Aaron Cohen provides details of the upcoming festival, which runs from May 13 to 17 in Boulder, Colorado.Embrace Everything listeners can get discounted tickets, merchandise, and access to special features. More information here:https://mahlerfest.org/pages/embrace-everything

Dec 22, 2025 • 14min
Mahler Miniatures: Embracing Humanity
For our final installment of the Mahler Miniatures, we hear a very special story from a very special listener.*****Guests include:ANISA MEHDI - Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and flutist*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org

Dec 18, 2025 • 6min
Mahler Miniatures: Poetry Corner
Host and Producer Aaron Cohen discusses a poem that influenced music in Mahler's Fifth Symphony.*****Starring:JAMES LURIE as the voice of Gustav Mahler*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org

Dec 15, 2025 • 7min
Mahler Miniatures: Nirvana on Earth
Host and Producer Aaron Cohen shares his research into one of Mahler's most beloved songs.*****Starring:*JAMES LURIE as the voice of Gustav MahlerGuests include:*THOMAS HAMPSON - Foremost Baritone and Opera Star*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org

Dec 11, 2025 • 7min
Mahler Miniatures: Amsterdam Mahler Festival
Host and Producer Aaron Cohen shares excerpts from interviews conducted during the 2025 Amsterdam Mahler Festival.*****Guests include: *CYNTHIA YEH - Principal Percussion, Chicago Symphony Orchestra*MICHAEL GIELER - Solo Viola, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org

Dec 8, 2025 • 11min
Mahler Miniatures: Alma Revealed
Host and Producer Aaron Cohen shares excerpts from his new interviews about Alma Mahler which will be featured in Season 5.*****Guests include: *MARINA MAHLER - Granddaughter of Gustav Mahler and President of the Mahler Foundation*THOMAS HAMPSON - Foremost Baritone and Opera Star*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org

Oct 14, 2025 • 22min
Special Episode: Mahler Movies
In this special episode, filmmaker JASON STARR talks about his fascination with Gustav Mahler and his many documentary movies on the great composer.*****Six of Jason Starr’s Mahler films currently available for streaming:On Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarerhttps://vimeo.com/475536616/6b9f10e961Mahler’s Titan: The Romance, Death and Triumph of a Young Musicianhttps://vimeo.com/475440671Of Love, Death and Beyond: Exploring Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphonyhttps://vimeo.com/465973667What the Universe Tells Me: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mahler's Third Symphonyhttps://vimeo.com/466968851Everywhere & Forever: Mahler’s Song of the Earthhttps://vimeo.com/463180305For the Love of Mahler: The Inspired Life of Henry-Louis de La Grangehttps://vimeo.com/454882275*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org*****EMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITE:www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.social

Jul 13, 2025 • 16min
BONUS EPISODE: Looking Ahead to Season 5 (S4, B2)
Host and Producer Aaron Cohen shares excerpts of his early research into Mahler’s Fifth Symphony as he begins production on Season 5.*****Guests include: *DAVID BILGER - Former Principal Trumpet, Philadelphia Orchestra*STEFAN DOHR - Principal Horn, Berlin Philharmonic*MARINA MAHLER - Granddaughter of Gustav Mahler and President of the Mahler Foundation*CHRISTOPHER MARTIN - Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic*PAUL MERKELO - Principal Trumpet, Montreal Symphony Orchestra*MICHAEL SACHS - Principal Trumpet, Cleveland Orchestra*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org*****EMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITE:www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgWATCH STEFAN DOHR PERFORM THE THIRD MOVEMENT OF MAHLER'S FIFTH SYMPHONY AS A SOLOIST:https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/work/1639-2BERLIN PHILHARMONIC DIGITAL CONCERT HALL:https://www.digitalconcerthall.com

Jul 12, 2025 • 14min
BONUS EPISODE: Seven Themes (S4, B1)
Mahler said there are seven themes in the first movement of his Fourth Symphony. Pianist and composer D.D. JACKSON identifies and contextualizes each of them for us.*****D.D. JACKSON is an Emmy Award-winning composer, a jazz and classical pianist, and a music educator. Learn more about him at www.ddjackson.com.*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org*****EMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITE:www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7

Jul 12, 2025 • 25min
The Premiere of Mahler's Fourth Symphony (S4, Ep.5)
Mahler premiered his Fourth Symphony in 1901. In this episode we learn how audiences and critics responded to the new work.*****Starring: *JAMES LURIE as the voice of Gustav Mahler*LAURA GRAGTMANS as the voice of Natalie Bauer-Lechner*DOMINIC COMPERATORE as the voice of Bruno Walter*JEFF SPURGEON as the voice of “The Critic”*DAN BARNETT as the voice of Jean Paul RichterGuests include: *BART HERMANS - Manager ICT, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam*****Support us on PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/u91819874/membershipSee the new EMBRACE EVERYTHING MUG on our website:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/donate.htmlFor a tax-deductible one-time contribution, support us on FRACTURED ATLAS:https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/embrace-everything-the-world-of-gustav-mahlerContributions of any size are appreciated.For more information, contact us at support@theworldofgustavmahler.org*****EMBRACE EVERYTHING WEBSITE:www.theworldofgustavmahler.orgEMBRACE EVERYTHING SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofgustavmahlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgustavmahler/X: https://x.com/worldofmahlerBluesky :https://bsky.app/profile/worldofmahler.bsky.socialBONUS CONTENT:https://www.theworldofgustavmahler.org/extras.htmlPODCAST LINKS:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3YU4tWnSpotify: spoti.fi/3TjHfb7


