Mahler, Gustav

Mahler, Gustav, b. Kaliště, Czech Republic (then Kalischt), July 7, 1860, d Vienna, May 18, 1911, world famous composer and conductor; husband of Alma M. Mahler-Werfel, father of Anna Mahler. The last great Austrian symphonic composer, continued the tradition of Anton Bruckner in his symphonic work, who was one of his teachers, side by side with his studies at the conservatory. Conductor from 1880 onwards in Bad Hall, Laibach (Ljubljana) and Olmütz (Olomouc), 1883 to 1885 in Kassel and Prague and 1886 to 1888 in Leipzig. 1888 to 1891 was Director of the Budapest Opera, 1891 to 1897 theatre conductor in Hamburg. From 1897 conductor at the Vienna State Opera, which experienced a flowering during his management from 1898 to 1907. He brought numerous stars to Vienna (e.g. A. Bahr-Mildenburg) and introduced various innovations; 1898 to 1901 conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts. 1902 he married Alma Maria Schindler (A. Mahler-Werfel). Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, 1909 musical director of the New York Philharmonic Society. Struck by an incurable illness he returned to Vienna in 1911.

A highly intellectual, nervous and sensitive composer and conductor, M. uncompromisingly dedicated his whole life to music. His late romantic style vacillates between irony and melancholy and is seen as typical of the end of the century mood. M. wrote, above all, songs and symphonies and combined both work categories in his orchestral songs or in the vocal parts included in his symphonies.

The International G.-M. Society in Vienna (initiated by B. Walter) was founded in 1955. The G. M. Honorary Medal has been awarded since 1966. L. Bernstein was instrumental in promoting the revival of his music from the 1980s.

Works: Das klagende Lied, 1880; 14 Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit, 1882; 4 Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, 1883-1885 (based on own text); 10 songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn", 1888; 5 children's requiems, 1902 (nach F. Rückert); Das Lied von der Erde, 1908; 10 Symphonies, 1888ff. (the last one remained unfinished, most of them with voice parts and chorus). - Edition: Sämtliche Werke, ed. by R. Kubik, 1960ff.

Literature: G. Adler, G. M., 1916; Alma M., G. M. Briefe, 1924; Alma M., G. M., Erinnerungen und Briefe, 1940; B. Walter, G. M., 1936 (²1957); H. L. de la Grange, G. M., Chronique d'une vie, 3 vols., 1973-1984; S. Wiesmann, G. M. und Wien, 1976; Z. Roman, G. M. American Years, 1989;F. Willnauer, G. M. und die Wr. Oper, 1993; J. Carr, G. M., 1997 (with index of works); E. W. Partsch and O. Pausch (eds.), Die Ära G. M., exhibition catalogue, Austrian Theatre Museum, Vienna 1997; H. H. Eggebrecht, Die Musik G. M., 1999; ÖBL; NDB.