Conductor Robert Spano concludes 20-year Atlanta Symphony Orchestra tenure with Mahler's Third Symphony

Conductor Robert Spano will begin a two-week residency with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra beginning May 9. (Courtesy of Jason Thrasher)

The composer Gustav Mahler once said, “A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.”

Conductor Robert Spano has brought us the world throughout his 20 years as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He will conduct Mahler’s “Symphony No. 3” on three nights over the weekend of June 9-12, and he joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom to talk about his special feeling of connection to this work by Mahler. 

Interview highlights follow below.