Carnegie Hall was the site of an historic event held on January 12, 2009: Mahler for the children of AIDS, a global humanitarian concert of MAHLER’S THIRD SYMPHONY to raise funds and promote public awareness for global pediatric AIDS and the PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD-TRANSMISSION OF HIV.

mMahler for the children of AIDS featured a performance of Gustav Mahler’s monumental Third Symphony. It brought together many of the world’s finest principal orchestral musicians, all of whom donated their artistry and energies: from the New York Philharmonic, The MET Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, some forty other orchestras and ensembles, and a chorus of women and children assembled from the Dessoff Symphonic Choirs and the Children’s Choirs of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and St. Ignatius Loyola as well as the great American Mezzo-soprano, SUSANNE MENTZER who from 1991-2006 organized and directed the annual JUBILATE benefit concert featuring stars of the opera and dance world to support Chicago’s Bonaventure House, a residence for people living with AIDS.

Glenn Dicterow, beloved concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic served as concertmaster. Joseph Alessi, legendary principal Trombone of the the New York Philharmonic will be the trombone soloist and Matthew Muckey, the brilliant young Associate Principal Trumpet of the New York Philarmonic will be the Posthorn soloist.

In the video clip below, George Mathew talks about how Mahler’s Third Symphony composed 100 years ago seems to speak directly to the heart-rending situation of children with AIDS today.