Which composer wrote Symphony No. 2, commonly called the Resurrection Symphony?

Gustav Mahler wrote Symphony No. 2, commonly called the Resurrection Symphony.

Mahler composed the symphony between 1888 and 1894, with revisions continuing until 1896. It begins as a large-scale instrumental funeral procession and ends with a choral setting of Friedrich Klopstock’s poem “Die Auferstehung,” meaning “The Resurrection.” Mahler added his own text to complete the finale.

The work requires a large orchestra, two vocal soloists, mixed chorus, and organ. Its first three movements were performed in Berlin in 1895, while the complete symphony received its premiere there on 13 December 1895. Mahler conducted the full performance himself.

The nickname comes from the finale’s resurrection theme rather than from an official subtitle printed by Mahler. The symphony’s emotional journey from death and judgment toward renewal is central to its identity, making it one of Mahler’s best-known works.