Tribute to the Late Gustav Mahler

During the past few weeks, I have been spending much time with the music of one of my all-time favorite composers, Gustav Mahler. If it had not been for the persistence of Leonard Bernstein, Mahler's musical scores may have never been retrieved and played by multiple orchestras.

Gustav Mahler died in 1911 at the age of 50. During his lifetime, he found it challenging to balance his composing and conducting talents. His efforts were further complicated by anti-Semitism that was prevalent throughout much of Eastern Europe. In order to be appointed to sought-after positions, he found it necessary to convert from Judaism to Christianity. While his talents were received with much acclaim during his lifetime, Hitler banned Mahler's music because of his Jewish roots. His scores might have been lost forever, if it had not been for the tireless efforts of Leonard Bernstein.

Following his long tenure with the New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein became the music director of the Vienna Philharmonic. Some members of the orchestra were holdovers from the Hitler era, so there was some resistance when Bernstein insisted upon the orchestra performing Mahler's music. Bernstein's persistence worked, and the music of Gustav Mahler was not only played in Vienna, but was quickly embraced by worldwide orchestras and audiences.

My personal favorite Mahler symphonies are his #1, 2, 3, 5, 8 & 9. His symphonies and song-cycles are masterpieces. My favorite interpreters of Mahler's symphonies were the late Leonard Bernstein and Claudio Abbado. My favorite current conductors of his music are Andreas Delfs and Gustavo Dudamel.

While many of my recent Facebook posts have been political, it is a joy for me to occasionally share my love of classical music. Brenda and I have been spending a lot of time in recent weeks watching videos of Mahler symphonies and have come to appreciate the genius of each music phrase composed by this remarkable man.