The broadcaster, critic, composer and author Stephen Johnson has recently published a new study of Mahler's Symphony No 8 – The Eighth: Mahler and the World in 1910. James Jolly spoke to him about the book: why Mahler's Eighth and the extraordinary story of its 1910 Munich premiere.

The Eighth: Mahler and the World in 1910 is published by Faber & Faber (hardback: £18.99 & ebook: £14.99). The musical excerpts come from Lorin Maazel's third (!) recording of the work, one captured live with the Philharmonia Orchestra, five choruses and nine soloists, and available from Signum Classics.