Mr Kaplan's involvement with the second symphony has made it probably the most talked-about of Mahler's works, diverting public attention away from the morbidity of his last great pieces.

ECONOMIST: Gilbert Kaplan

Dominating the symphony of second fiddles, according to collegepollarchive.com, is Maryland, which has spent a whopping 23 weeks at No. 2 over six seasons without reaching No. 1.

WSJ: And the No. 1 Ranking Goes to��Gonzaga?

In the second of a three-part series on the New World Symphony, NPR's Ari Shapiro reports on the business of classical music and how this unique training orchestra prepares young musicians for challenges they'll face.

NPR: At New World, Young Musicians Expand Skills

Mr Kaplan is acknowledged as the leading technical authority on Mahler's second symphony, consulted by many professional maestros on matters of detail.

ECONOMIST: Gilbert Kaplan