Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911)

Biography

Gustav Mahler was an Austrian composer at the transition from Late Romanticism to Modernism. He was one of the most important composers of the late Romantic period, one of the leading conductors of his generation, and—as an opera director—one of the most influential reformers of musical theater.

Gustav Mahler has Jewish Roots.

Gustav was born in 1860 to Bernard Mahler and his wife Marie, née Herrmann. Bernhard supported his son's ambitions for a musical career.^[1]

In 1875 Gustav began studying music at the Vienna Conservatory. In 1877 he enrolled at the University of Vienna, where he attended historical and philosophical lectures in addition to harmonics. After graduating from the Vienna Conservatory in 1878, he held a succession of conducting and musical director posts of rising importance in the opera houses of Europe, including the Royal Theater in Kassel (1883-1885), the German State Theater in Prague (1885-1886), the Stadttheater in Leipzig (1886), the Opera in Budapest (1888-1891), the Hamburg City Theater and Symphony Orchestra (1891-1897), culminating in his appointment as the director of the Vienna Court Opera ("Hofoper") (1897-1907), after converting from Judaism to Catholicism. From 1898 to 1901 Mahler conducted the Vienna Philharmonic.^[1][2]

Gustav married Alma Schindler on 9 March 1902 in Vienna. They had two daughters:^[3][4]

• Maria Anna "Putzi" Mahler (3 Nov 1902 – 12 Jul 1907),^[5]
• Anna Justine "Gucki" Mahler (15 Jun 1904 – 3 Jun 1988).

In 1907 Mahler accepted a position as guest conductor with the Metropolitan Opera and the Philharmonic Orchestra in New York. In 1909 he became the director of the New York Philharmonic Society.^[2]

Mahler's œuvre is relatively limited; for much of his life composing was necessarily a part-time activity while he earned his living as a conductor and director. Aside from early works, Mahler's works are generally designed for large orchestral forces, symphonic choruses and operatic soloists.^[1]

Gustav Mahler passed away on 18 May 1911 and was buried at the Grinzing Cemetery (Friedhof Grinzing) on 22 May 1911.^[6][7]

Research Notes

Pupils he influenced:

1. Emil Georg Conrad von Sauer (1862-1942)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} English Wikipedia article on Gustav Mahler
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Lebendiges Museum Online: Gustav Mahler 1860-1911
3. ↑ English Wikipedia article on his wife Alma Mahler
4. ↑ German Wikipedia article on his daughter Anna Mahler
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #64648867
6. ↑ Matricula Online. Österreich, Wien/Niederösterreich (Osten): Rk. Erzdiözese Wien 08, Alservorstadtpfarre, Sterbebuch 03-034, 1911-1913, p. 63, no. 355
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #1298

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q7304
• German Wikipedia article on Gustav Mahler
• Mahler Foundation: Gustav Mahler (English)
• Mahler Foundation: Gustav Mahler (German)
• Family Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
• JewishGen: Gustav Mahler
• RootsWeb: Mahler Family Genealogy
• Gustav is mentioned in the book 'BOOSEY & HAWKES: THE PUBLISHING STORY' written by Helen Wallace. 'Boosey & Hawkes, the Publishing Story' by Helen Wallace-1
• Beth Britten's biography of her brother Benjamin Britten the composer, entitled 'My Brother Benjamin', published by The Kensal Press in 1986 (ISBN 0-946041-40-7), includes extensive family trees. Hundreds of friends, professional connections and people in the 'music world' are also mentioned in the text. 'My Brother Benjamin' by his sister Beth Britten