Gustav Mahler

The first scholarly, interdisciplinary biography of Mahler, written by music sociologist Kurt Blaukopf, marked a revolution in the music world when it was first published in 1969 and paved the way for the rediscovery of one of the most important composers, conductors, and theater directors of the 20th century. Translated into numerous languages (English, French, Swedish, Czech, Hungarian, Japanese), this standard work of Mahler research was for years available only in antiquarian form in the German-speaking world and is now available again in the original text version. The pioneering achievement of the renowned music sociologist Blaukopf consists in particular in understanding Gustav Mahler from his time and in making him accessible as a trailblazer of future developments: Mahler was the first conductor of today's type, the first great opera director, and the composer who led symphonic music from late Romanticism to modernity. Moreover, Kurt Blaukopf argues that the upswing in Mahler's reception is essentially related to the new recording techniques. This book allows us to see anew the man and artist, the creator and interpreter, the fighter and pioneer, the lover and wrestler, the reformer of the scene and finisher of the symphony, and to recognize him as a contemporary of our time.