All through the six movements that comprise his Third Symphony, Gustav Mahler was interested in the evolution of lifeforms in nature and the universe. This symphony of epic proportions is the longest of Mahler's nine and echoes the Second in the themes it takes up, as well as its allusions to the lieder of Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy's Magic Horn). The Third recounts, with profound emotion, nothing less than the birth of planet Earth, its flora and fauna, human beings and divine creatures.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra provides a striking interpretation of this monumental work under the baton of Vasily Petrenko, joined by two choirs and mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp in a hymn to love and beauty. To mark this special occasion and pay tribute to the work of Mahler, the orchestra borrowed a set of bells from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, which maestro Petrenko led for fifteen years, making this the first ever Mahler 3 to use real bells in the Royal Albert Hall.