Mahler was born in 1860 in an outpost of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and became one of the greatest conductors and composers of his time, acclaimed throughout Europe and America. This biography assembles a wealth of contemporary material from letters, diaries, concert programmes and reviews.



Gustav Mahler was born on 7 July 1860 in an insignificant outpost of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He grew to become one of the greatest conductors and composers of his time, acclaimed throughout Europe and America for his interpretations of a repertoire ranging from Mozart and Beethoven to Wagner and Strauss, and for his own richly orchestrated works. Today, his intensely emotional and evocative music continues to inspire the listener, and awakens curiosity about the man who created it.

This book is a revised and expanded version of the first edition, Mahler: A Documentary Study, described by Gramophone as ‘quite simply a revelation’. It brings together a wealth of contemporary material — letters, reviews, concert programmes, diary extracts — to create a picture of Mahler in his own words and those of his friends, colleagues and critics.