Gustav Mahler

Synopsis

The definitive biography of the celebrated composer, published in English to coincide with the centenary of his death

A best seller when first published in Germany in 2003, Jens Malte Fischer's Gustav Mahler has been lauded by scholars as a landmark work. He draws on important primary resources-some unavailable to previous biographers-and sets in narrative context the extensive correspondence between Mahler and his wife, Alma; Alma Mahler's diaries; and the memoirs of Natalie Bauer-Lechner, a viola player and close friend of Mahler, whose private journals provide insight into the composer's personal and professional lives and his creative process.

Fischer explores Mahler's early life, his relationship to literature, his achievements as a conductor in Vienna and New York, his unhappy marriage, and his work with the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic in his later years. He also illustrates why Mahler is a prime example of artistic idealism worn down by Austrian anti-Semitism and American commercialism. Gustav Mahler is the best-sourced and most balanced biography available about the composer, a nuanced and intriguing portrait of his dramatic life set against the backdrop of early 20th century America and fin de siècle Europe.

Summary

Chapter 1

In the first chapter of Gustav Mahler, readers are introduced to the life and career of the renowned composer and conductor. Through exploring his background, childhood, and musical education, we see the circumstances that led him to a successful and influential life in music. Mahler's early musical education was undertaken while living with his family in Iglau, a small town in what is now the Czech Republic, and continued when the family moved to Vienna. We also see how his family relationships, particularly his interactions with his father, shaped his interest and aptitude for music. As an example, Mahler once wrote, “It was my father who gave me my passion for music. As a little boy of about eleven, I was often at his side when he played Bach or Mozart.” This quote gives a glimpse into the formative musical influences that contributed to Mahler’s career.

Chapter 2

The second chapter of Gustav Mahler dives into the development of his professional career as both a composer and conductor. We are shown his early successes as both a musician and conductor, specifically with the court orchestra of the Vienna Imperial Opera. This is seen in particular when he contested for the post of conductor, winning second place with remarkable reviews for his technical skill and creativity. Furthermore, we also get to learn of Mahler’s initial composition of some of his most recognized works, such as the Symphony No. 1, ‘Titan’. Mahler’s first symphony was initially met with resistance due to the daring innovations he implemented. It has famously been quoted, “A modern composer… whoever wants to see what is original, what disregards the traditions of former masters, what has never before been seen on a musical stage—let him come, and he will find it in profusion.”

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 offers readers a detailed account of Mahler’s work with the Budapest opera. Here, readers learn of how he not only endowed the opera with greater prestige and success, but also in how he inadvertently initiated the ‘Mahler renaissance’ through performing and recording his pieces. Moreover, an insight of Mahler as a conductor is provided; from his technical mastery of conducting, remarkable ability to convey emotional and intellectual meaning through his performance and the tremendous respect of his musicians. As an example of this, Mahler said “My conducting was so much a part of myself that sometimes it seemed to me as if I were living in the souls of my musicians sharing in their joy when I triumphantly brought our performance to its triumphant climax.”

Chapter 4

The fourth chapter of Gustav Mahler focuses on his work with the Vienna State Opera, a position he held for over seven years until resigning in 1907. This chapter describes his contributions to changing the cultural environment of Vienna, increasing the public’s appreciation for his work, and typically how he was able to bring fame and attention to the opera house through his direction. One of the most famous anecdotes of his tenure with the Vienna State Opera revolves around his composition of the final scene in his Symphony No. 6, also known as the ‘Tragic’. Mahler dedicated his work to a crowd of 10,000 people who had gathered to hear him conduct the piece, and his closing words to the audience inspired “breathless expectations” throughout the audience.

Chapter 5

The fifth and final chapter details Mahler’s last two years in Vienna and his move to America. One of Mahler’s last pieces of work before leaving Vienna, was conducting the premiere performance of his Symphony No. 8, ‘The Symphony of a Thousand’. This achievement was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from audiences and critics. Furthermore, his move to America as well as his friendship with Sibelius, an influential composer of the time, is also discussed. Mahler was appointed the first music director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and conducted over forty performances in a short space of time, adding to the fame of his works in America. At the end of his life, Mahler wrote to a friend, “I have suffered greatly and intensely, I have been overwhelmed by fate’s unfathomable decision, and yet I believe firmly in my life’s purpose and mission.” This quote offers insight into the humility and resilience exhibited by Mahler in his final days.