Gustav Mahler is recognized as one of the most famous and influential symphonic composers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. His work mainly consisted of symphonic and song cycles, which postulated complex orchestral scores. Although Mahler had almost no popularity and success as a composer during his lifetime, his talents as an interpreter at the conductor's console were highly appreciated and also allowed him to hold the position of musical director of famous orchestras. Born into a Jewish family, he had to go through anti-Semitic campaigns that led to his expulsion from Vienna.
Childhood and youth
A famous conductor and composer, Gustav Mahler was born in Kalista, Bohemia on July 7, 1860 in the family of the distillery manager of the father and mother of the housewife. Five of his brothers and sisters died in infancy, while the other three did not live to adulthood. From early childhood, Gustav has witnessed ongoing conflicts between father and mother. This may have influenced his compositional style, as they always reflected themes that depicted the struggle between good and evil, happiness and sadness, strength and weakness. Mahler’s musical abilities were evident in the very early stages, and by the time Gustav was eight years old, he was already composing music. Gustav's parents encouraged his music classes and sent him to private tutors so that he would receive his first lessons. Mahler entered the Vienna Conservatory, where he studied from 1875 to 1878. Although Mahler's studies at the conservatory began poorly, the last year brought him many awards. In 1878, Mahler graduated from the conservatory with a silver medal. Then Mahler entered the University of Vienna and became interested in literature and philosophy.
Career
After graduating from university in 1879, Mahler worked as a piano teacher for some time and in 1880 completed his drama cantata "Das klagende Lied" ("Song of Sorrow"). Mahler was fascinated by German culture and philosophy. One of his friends Siegfried Lipiner introduced him to the works of Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Gustav Fechner and Hermann Lotze. The influence of these philosophers persisted in Mahler’s music long after the end of his student days. Mahler first became a conductor in a small wooden theater in the spa town of Bad Hall, south of Linz, in the summer of 1880, after the completion of a six-month contract, Mahler returned to Vienna, where he worked as a choir master in the Vienna Cathedral. Later, in January 1883, Mahler was appointed conductor at the Runner Theater in Olmütz (modern Olomouc). Despite the fact that Mahler was not very friendly with the musicians of the orchestra, he was successful in creating five new operas in the theater, one of which was Carmen Bizet. Soon, Mahler received warm and enthusiastic reviews from the critic, who until then greatly disliked him. After a week-long trial at the Royal Theater in the City of Hesse, Kassel Mahler was appointed since August 1883 to be the music and choral director of the theater.
On June 23, 1884, Gustav conducted his own music for Joseph Victor von Scheffel's play Der Trompeter von Säkkingen (Trumpeter from Seckingen), which became the first professional public performance of his own work. Passionate, but short-lived love affair with soprano Joanna Richter inspired Mahler to write a series of love poems, which eventually became the text of his song cycle Lieder eines fahrenden gesellen ("Songs Of A Wayfarer"). In July 1885, Mahler was appointed assistant conductor at the Neues Deutsches Theater (New German Theater) in Prague. Mahler left Prague in April 1886 and moved to Leipzig, where he was offered a position at the Neues Stadttheater. However, fierce rivalry with his senior colleague Arthur Nikisch begins in this position, mainly due to the share of fulfilling the duties of the new production of the Wagner's cycle theater. But later, in January 1887, due to Nikish’s illness, Mahler claimed responsibility for the entire cycle and received overwhelming success and recognition from the local public. Despite this, his relationship with the orchestra remained very tense, which was dissatisfied with his tyrannical manners and heavy rehearsal schedules.
In Leipzig, Mahler met with Carl von Weber and agreed to work on a performing version of Karl Maria von Weber's unfinished opera "The Three Pintos". Mahler added his own composition and the premiere of the work took place in January 1888 in the city theater. This work was extremely successful, which brought both critical acclaim and financial success.
Since October 1888, Mahler was appointed director of the Hungarian Royal Opera House in Budapest. In May 1891, he resigned from his post, as he was offered the position of chief conductor at the Hamburg City Theater. While at the Stadttheater, Mahler introduced several new operas such as Humperdinck in Hänsel und Gretel, Falstaff Verdi and the work of sour cream. However, he was soon forced to resign from his post with signed concerts due to financial failures and an ill-conceived interpretation of Beethoven’s ninth symphony. Since 1895, Mahler tried to become director of the Vienna Opera. However, the appointment of a Jew to this post was suspended, but he solved this problem by converting to Roman Catholicism in February 1897. After a couple of months, Mahler was appointed to the Vienna Opera, to the post of bandmaster, and, pompto, and chief conductor.
Although in Vienna Gustav experienced several theatrical triumphs and Austria fell in love with him very much, but his conflicts with singers and the administration overshadowed his work. Mahler was extremely successful in raising standards, but his tyrannical style provoked fierce resistance from both orchestra musicians and singers, many were opposed to him both in the theater and beyond. Anti-Semitic elements in Viennese society began a press campaign in 1907, the purpose of which was to expel Gustav and, alas, after a series of articles in the yellow press and scandals, the great composer and conductor decided to leave the country.
On November 24th, he gives a farewell concert where he conducts the Vienna Opera Orchestra which masterfully performed the second symphony,
Personal life
At a secular meeting in November 1901, Gustav met Alma Schindler, who was the stepdaughter of the artist Karl Mall. Soon both fell in love, and on March 9, 1902 they got married. By this time, Alma was already pregnant with her first child, daughter Maria, who was born on November 3, 1902, the second daughter Anna was born in 1904. Mahler, very upset by the campaign launched against him in Vienna, drove his family to Meining in the summer of 1907. After arriving in Meyning, both his daughters fell ill with scarlet fever and diphtheria. Anna recovered, but Mary died on July 12.
