The mountainous, Mormon state of Utah seems a long way from fin-de-siècle Vienna, but the Utah Symphony played an important role in reviving the popularity of Mahler’s music in the second half of the 20th century.

Just over 70 years ago the fledgling band signed a one-year contract with conductor Maurice Abravanel. (The Jewish emigré had fled Nazi Germany, eventually settling in New York. Along the way he had a two-year stint conducting George Balanchine’s ballets in Australia.) Abravanel’s one-year contract turned into a 32-year association and amongst the many recordings he made with the Utah orchestra were some of the first commercial recordings of Mahler’s symphonies, including the Eighth. Abravanel was well qualified to do this, having worked with Mahler’s friend and advocate, Bruno...