Gustave Mahler

Gustav Mahler

-born July 7, 1860, Kalischt,
Bohemia(then Austria, now
the Czech Republic)

-died May 18, 1911, Vienna,
Austria

A composer of the Romantic Era

-As a child, Gustav Mahler took piano lessons and showed a great interest
in music.

- His parents took him to the Vienna Conservatory of music, where he was
accepted for study at age fifteen.

-He also studied history and philosophy at the University of Vienna.

-While at the conservatory from 1875 through 1878, Gustav wrote his first
musical compositions.

-He began work on his first symphony in 1880.

Career as a Conductor

-Throughout the early 1880s, he took a variety of jobs as orchestra
conductor in towns and small cities in Austria, Slovenia, Bohemia, and
Germany.

-In 1885 Mahler was named assistant conductor of the Prague
(Czechoslovakia) Opera, and in 1886 became assistant conductor of the
Leipzig (Germany) Opera.

-He later held the position of music director of the Budapest Royal Opera
(1888) and conductor of the Hamburg Opera (1891).

Career cont.

-Mahler had established himself as one of the premier orchestral and
opera conductors in central Europe.

-He did most of his composing in the summers, when his orchestras and
operas were not performing. In 1897, Mahler became music director of
the Vienna State Opera, a very important position.

- A year later he also took on the position of conductor of the Vienna
Philharmonic. Undoubtedly, Mahler was now the most important musical
figure in Austria.

Mahler’s Summers

-Mahler purchased a summer home near a lake in the Austrian
countryside. He used this home as a retreat where he worked on his
music.

-wrote four symphonies here between 1901 and 1907. Mahler was now
composing orchestral music almost exclusively, although some of his
symphonies called for singers in addition to a full orchestra.

-Settled into a productive professional life as a composer and conductor.
However, after several years with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna
State Opera, disagreements with both organizations caused him to resign

Mahler in the USA

-Mahler moved to the United States in 1907 and was named conductor of
the Metropolitan Opera.

-In 1909 (age forty-nine), he added the position of conductor of the New
York Philharmonic. Mahler held these positions until 1911, although he
continued to spend his summers in Europe.

-Once again, disagreements and conflicts with his employers caused him
to resign.

-In 1911 he returned to Vienna, where he died of a heart attack in May.

Mahler as a person

-As a conductor, Gustav Mahler was always well received by audiences and
music critics. The same cannot be said of his music.

-During his lifetime, Mahler’s symphonies were often considered to be too
long, too loud, and too complex.

-His music fell into disfavor after his death, but were revived later in the
twentieth century.

-Although some of his symphonies were written in the early twentieth
century, Mahler is considered the last great composer of the Romantic
era.

Mahler’s Music

-His ten symphonies, especially
Symphonies

-No. 1, 2, and 5.

-Symphonies No. 5 through 10 are
very difficult, and are performed
less frequently than Symphonies
No. 1 through 4.