Waterbury Symphony's season final concert is all about Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): one of my most favorite composers. Why do I love Mahler's music? There is agony and suffering, and later it leads you to heroic and/or strong courageous ending. Also there is the sense of being one with nature and fun/romantic moments. So... that's like Beethoven to me but more in modern ways and even more human like.
He was known as a conductor, his career took him to Vienna (Vienna Court Opera) and later, New York (the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera). He wrote 10 symphonies (all are very lengthy, in a good way) and WSO is playing the first symphony, "Titan". I will write about it in the next entry. But today, let's follow the footsteps of Mahler during his time in Vienna. I felt I had to visit all those places while I was there last summer. So here are the photos!
He was known as a conductor, his career took him to Vienna (Vienna Court Opera) and later, New York (the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera). He wrote 10 symphonies (all are very lengthy, in a good way) and WSO is playing the first symphony, "Titan". I will write about it in the next entry. But today, let's follow the footsteps of Mahler during his time in Vienna. I felt I had to visit all those places while I was there last summer. So here are the photos!
1. This is where he lived from 1898 to 1909, on Auenburggergasse (on the corner of Auenburggergasse and Rennweg). He lived on the 5th floor of this building.
the foyer
2. Mahlerstraße: Mahler Street. This was probably his commuting route to the Opera House. That's about a 10 minute walk.
3. Vienna Conservatory where he attended from 1875 to 1878.
4. Mahler's grave in Grinzing Cemetery (near Heiligenstadt). Compared to other Viennese composers' graves at Central Cemetery, his is very simple. He had requested it to be that way because, he said, people who would visit his grave would know who he was.
The pebbles on top of the grave is by Jewish tradition -- he converted to Catholicism in order to secure his post as a music director of the Vienna Court Opera.
The pebbles on top of the grave is by Jewish tradition -- he converted to Catholicism in order to secure his post as a music director of the Vienna Court Opera.
