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“Dark is life, dark is death”: Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of The Earth) is Mahler's most naked confrontation with human mortality. In the hauntingly beautiful Der Abschied (The Farewell), Mahler seems to somehow come to terms with death. Perhaps it will also help us reconcile ourselves with our fate? Soloists Christianne Stotijn and Peter Gijsbertsen give voice to the composer's quiet contemplation, while composer Filip Rathé's new orchestral music skilfully links the different songs together. The result is a single, subtle sound. Soloists Christianne Stotijn and Peter Gijsbertsen perform Mahler's reflections. Composer Filip Rathé read the different parts of Mahler's music poem together with new orchestral music. Fernando Pessoa's wavy couplets color the sound: a subtle total experience is created.