Sir Mark Elder conducts the huge forces of the National Youth Orchestra in a performance of Mahler's epic Ninth Symphony. Sir Mark provides an in-depth, movement-by-movement guide to the symphony, written as Mahler was reeling from the death of his young daughter and facing his own mortality in failing health. Sir Mark relishes the challenge of engaging the young players of the NYO with this emotionally vast piece - he says he must "give them the opportunity to let them dig down into themselves, to encourage them, to demand from them, gently, strongly, more and more".

Presented from the Royal Albert Hall by Katie Derham. Show less