Mahler

Subject: Gustav Mahler

Born: July 7, 1860

Died: May 18, 1911

Child prodigy? Yes. Mahler showed great promise as a musician from a very early age. He gave his first public performance as a pianist at age 10. His family encouraged his ability and interest in music.

Contribution to music: Mahler is the bridge between the Romantic period and the Second Viennese School. He expanded the bounds of what was acceptable in terms of form, timbre, harmony, length and orchestration.

Known for: His conducting! Mahler was one of the great conductors of his time, especially for opera. He spent 10 years as director of the Vienna Court Opera in addition to shorter stints with the New York Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic.

Happy or neurotic?: Maybe not neurotic, but certainly depressed.

Strange fact: Mahler's 6th Symphony calls for a percussionist to strike a "Mahler Box." It's an incredible thing to hear live because it is so powerful that you can feel the sound throughout your body.


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Don't forget - tonight WUOT will begin broadcasting the recordings of last season's KSO concerts. More information can be found here.