Mahler once declared that “a symphony should be like the world – it should embrace everything,” and last night’s BBC Proms performance of Mahler’s colossal Symphony No. 3 (1896) did exactly that. Written in Austria and regarded as one of the longest symphonies ever written, this monumental work, in five movements, filled the Royal Albert Hall with 284 musicians. Conductor Ryan Bancroft was able to master the music and the sheer size of the forces on stage, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW), the Orchestre National de Bretagne, the BBC National Chorus of Wales (upper voices), and the CBSO Children’s Chorus.

With nine horns, the sheer scale of the resplendant brass section made an impact before the first note was played. Indeed, the half-hour first movement opened with a dramatic horn call, instantly commanding attention. Mahler’s trademark drama surged through the great brass and a vigorous marching tempo, conjuring shifting landscapes and an abundance of powerful nature. Under Ryan Bancroft’s clear direction, the playing was both taut and spacious, capturing the symphony’s expanse.

The work’s kaleidoscopic moods reached their most intimate in the fourth movement, where mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor shone. Her warm tone floated effortlessly above the orchestra, lending some tenderness to Mahler’s mysticism.

For the extended adagio finale, Mahler has the orchestra stand alone. Strings and brass built slowly to a blazing climax, which felt dark and searching, before fading into a hushed conclusion. It was a closing that gave goosebumps, held the hall in silence, and proved that Mahler’s vision of an awesome symphony which details the complexities of our existence is as powerful as ever.

Tickets for all 72 Proms are available from just £8 on the Royal Albert Hall’s BBC Proms 2025 website.