Photo by Tanja Niemann

Gilbert Kaplan
Gilbert Kaplan is widely considered one of the foremost interpreters of Mahler's Second Symphony ("Resurrection"). He has conducted highly acclaimed performances of the work with more than 50 orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, National Symphony (Washington D.C.), Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, London Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bavarian Radio Orchestra (Munich), Philharmonic Orchestra of La Scala (Milan), Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Russian National Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony and the China National Symphony (in the premiere of Mahler's SecondSymphonyin China).  Upcoming engagements include the New York Philharmonic.

Mr. Kaplan’s recording of Mahler’s Second Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra, with sales in excess of 180,000 copies, is the best-selling Mahler recording in history and was selected as one of the “Records of the Year” by The New York Times. A recent recording with the Vienna Philharmonic has been the best-selling recording of Mahler’s Second Symphony since its release in 2003.

A leading authority on the composer, Mr. Kaplan is the author of the award-winning illustrated biography The Mahler Album. His extensive writings on Mahler have from London’s musicological journal The Musical Times to The New York Times.  On radio, he has served as the host of a 13-week Mahler series broadcast on 350 radio stations in the United States and for the past six years has hosted "Mad About Music," a celebrity classical music and interview program.

A faculty member of the Juilliard School (Evening Division), Mr. Kaplan has lectured also at Harvard and Oxford universities and leading musical conservatories.  He is a recipient of many honors, including an honorary Ph.D. from Westminster Choir College of Princeton, New Jersey, and serves on the boards of Carnegie Hall and the Visiting Committee to the Department of Music at Harvard University.

PRESS COMMENTS

"The expression of Mahler's own intentions.  Moving and majestic, this performance should not be missed."
The New York Times

"One of the most shattering performances the Festival Hall can ever have witnessed.”
Evening Standard (London)

"It is virtually impossible to surprise the Vienna musical public, but the concert by Gilbert Kaplan, without exaggeration, can be called a sensation." TASS (Vienna)

"Whether in London, Salzburg, Rio, Milan or Jerusalem, Kaplan, sweeps the public off their feet – he spurred the orchestra and choir of the Deutsche Oper to unimagined heights.” 
Die Welt (Berlin)
                       
"Kaplan Conquers La Scala.
It was a sparkling performance.  Many in the audience were convinced that the performance of the 'Resurrection' last night was the best one they had ever heard."
Il  Giornale (Milan)

“A triumph for Kaplan...shook the Grosses Festspielhaus to its granite foundations.”
Time Magazine (Salzburg)

"It seemed at times that in front of us stood Mahler himself.  Kaplan is a phenomenon. Maybe this is the way, and the only way that Mahler wanted his work to be played."
Maariv (Jerusalem)