still true. mahler's not my favourite (that'd be bruckner) but i get why most people consider him the best 19th/20th century symphonist. big sounds, great use of texture, not yet taking the form into the excessively weird or difficult.
years ago we saw the philharmonic orchestra play mahler 1 at the proms. we were in england at the time. heard that it was on, and grabbed a couple of tickets. we got seats in the choirs, literally behind the orchestra, so my partner could watch the conductor. that remains my symphonic high watermark, along with a performance of schubert 9 by my local symphony when i was...14? or maybe 15? but the mahler 4 we watched is definitely up there. a while ago now our symphony got a new musical director, and he's breathed new life into an orchestra we found more often than not disappointing under the old conductor.
next year's program has been announced. once again, no bruckner. what's a guy gotta do.