Gustav Mahler Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Ludwig van beethoven Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major, "Symphony of a Thousand" bedřich smetana Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor Antonín dvořák gustav mahler leoš janáček Výstaviště Praha bohuslav martinů Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor Music Gustav Mahler Artist Miroslav Kejmar/Rudolf Beránek/Czech Philharmonic/Václav Neumann Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major, "Symphony of a Thousand" Music Gustav Mahler/original text Liturgical text, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Artist Richard Novák/Věra Soukupová/Libuše Márová/Thomas Moser/Wolfgang Schöne/Inga Nielsenová/Gabriela Beňačková/Daniela Šounová-Brouková/Czech Philharmonic/Václav Neumann/Czech Philharmonic Children's Choir Dům U Zlatého anděla Dům U Červeného páva Státní opera Gustav Mahler Austrian-Jewish composer and outstanding conductor. Particularly famous for his significant era in the Vienna Court Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He is considered one of the greatest Austrian symphonist. Mahler can almost be considered a Czech composer, as well, both in terms of place of birth and taking into account his inspiration with Czech folk music. 7 July 1860 in Kaliště (Czech Republic) 18 May 1911 in Vienna (Austria) Mahler was born in a German-speaking Jewish family in a village on the Czech-Moravian border in what was then Austria-Hungary, nowadays the Czech Republic. The region's folk music, as well as the Jewish music of his upbringing, were later reflected in Mahler's works. He grew up with his family in Jihlava (incidentally, he was a lifelong vegetarian.) When he was twenty he began his conducting career, that has taken him into many cities - Ljubljana, Olomouc, Prague, Leipzig and Budapest. In Hamburg Mahler became the first leader of one of the Germany's best opera houses. He made guest appearances at Covent Garden. From 1895, Mahler tried to win the post of the director at the Court Opera in Vienna. He even converted to Catholicism in order to prevent anti-Semitic attacks. Between the years 1897 and 1907 the Court Opera experienced a great rise under his leadership. In 1907 Mahler departed with his family to America where he became principal conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His departure was influenced by a rising anti-Semitic criticism and his own dissatisfaction with the Opera House. At the Metropolitan Opera Mahler staged operas of Wagner, Mozart, and Beethoven's Fidelio. In 1909 he performed Smetana's opera The Bartered Bride with Emma Destinn. In 1909 he became a chief conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with which he conducted 46 concerts in one season. Mahler was diagnosed with congenital heart disease and in 1910 his condition worsened. He returned to Europe to conduct his Eighth Symphony in Munich which was attended by dozens of close friends and supporters. In the autumn he went back to the States but due to his health problems he eventually had return to Vienna where he died at the age of 50. He was buried in the cemetery in Grinzing. SELECTED WORKS Cantata: The Song of Sorrow Songs with orchestra: Songs of a Wayfarer, Songs from The Youth´s Magic Horn, Songs on the Death of Children, Seven Songs of Latter Days Songs with piano: The Songs of Youth Symphonies No. 1 - 10 (10 is unfinished) House at the Golden Angel The house – nowadays a hotel – used to be a well-known tavern Mozart visited in 1787. Many decades later, Gustav Mahler rented a flat here during his studies at a grammar school. House at the Red Peacock The House at the Red Peacock, also known as the Salon Gogo, was the grandest among Prague brothels. Established around 1865, it was run by Abraham Goldschmidt. The salon was attended by, among others, world-famous writer Franz Kafka, legendary journalist Egon Erwin Kisch, and music composer Gustav Mahler. Mahler won himself the local nickname of “nutty musician” due to his habit of bursting into the brothel’s Japanese room in the middle of the night in order to compose on the piano. At dawn he paid for the obligatory bottle of champagne and walked home. At the time, Mahler was living in a rented room and could not compose there at night without incurring the wrath of his landlord. The business was closed around 1918 but the house still stands, now housing a restaurant bearing The Red Peacock name. Prague Exhibition Grounds In the Concert Hall of the Prague Exhibition Grounds, Gustav Mahler conducted the opening concert of the Prague Jubilee Exhibition of the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in May 1908. In September of the same year, he conducted the world premiere of his 7th Symphony here. The Concert Hall has, sadly, not survived. Prague State Opera Operated as a scene of the National Theatre, with its own opera and ballet ensemble, belongs amongst the most important music scenes in Europe. Since 1888 when it was opened as the New German Theatre, a number of world-renowned composers performed here, such as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Alexander Zemlinsky. Areál Výstaviště 67 Celetná 588/29 Kamzíková 543/6 Wilsonova 4