Great Masters: Mahler - His Life and Music

By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Greenberg

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

More than many other composers, Gustav Mahler's works are highly personal expressions of his inner world, a world of overwhelming alienation and loneliness - "thrice homeless," in his own words, "as a Bohemian in Austria, as an Austrian among Germans, as a Jew throughout the world - everywhere an intruder, never welcomed."

Incredibly, Mahler was able to draw upon the diversity of this world that offered him no true home, as well as his often tortured inner world, to create rich and original music. It's a music whose power you will be able to appreciate fully after experiencing this eight-lecture exploration of the life and work of this titan of post-Romantic musical history, a complex, anxiety-bound visionary whose continual search for perfection and the answers to life's mysteries is profoundly reflected in his symphonies and songs.

You'll learn, through both lectures and musical excerpts, how his symphonies are vast repositories of his intellectual, emotional, and spiritual expression that made him the first exponent of Expressionism, the early 20th-century art movement that celebrates inner reality as the only reality - but explored by Mahler using the musical language of the century just ended. And you'll learn how Mahler's music is, ultimately, about himself: the lonely, isolated individual.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses

Wonderful

Wonderful stories and narration. I have learnt so much about Mahler’s life. But I wish there were more music analysis.

Very Good But Much Missing

It’s a really informative and entertaining course. Little or nothing said about Symphonies 4&7. More lectures would have made for a more satisfying survey.

An absolute must for all Mahler fans

Ever since I was introduced in a whim to the work of Gustav Mahler back in the early 90s by a man who quipped, “You enjoy heavy stuff like Zeppelin? Take a break from Mozart; you need to listen to Mahler.”

I was a member of the Columbia record club at the time and the featured classical CD of the month was a recording of Gustav maulers Symphony No. 2.

I dove in, and suffice it to say, I never looked back. I am a shameless and whole hearted devotee of the cult of Mahler.

Despite years of reading and documentary watching and classical performances all over the country, Professor Greenberg brings the joy and emotion of not only Mahler’s music, but the details of his life into palpable view in this series of utterly enjoyable lectures.

One often doesn’t think of “a great sense of humor“ when it comes to the work of Gustav Mahler. But Professor Greenberg is never without humor and wit from beginning to end of these lectures.

This is by far one of the most enjoyable listens I have yet experienced here on Audible.

Need written materials

As with all lectures on Audible, I withhold a star because of the absence of access to written program guides deemed necessary to fully appreciate these lectures.

A Great Survey of Mahler's Life and Major Works

Good enough that my major complaint is I wish it were just longer. Professor Greenberg with his wit, knowledge, and charisma is able to draw a nice narrative arc through the life of Gustav Mahler. This course is broken into 8 lectures:

1. Introduction & Childhood
2. Mahler the Conductor
3. Early Songs and Symphony 1
4. The Wunderhorn Symphonies
5. Alma and Vienna
6. Family Life and Symphony 5
7. Symphony 7 & Das Lied von de Erde
8. Das Lied, Final Symphonies, & the End.

It all felt a bit too compressed for me. Perhaps I'm just spoiled because I've been listening also to his 30 Greatest Orchestral Works and each piece in that recording is given a whole lecture (45 minutes). I would have liked to see more time on each of his major symphonies and works AND not lose any of the actual history.

But really, that is my only major complaint. I would recommend for the serious listener to also go buy the major symphonies (from major labels and great conductors) and listen to them a couple times while listening to this course. I fell in love with Mahler's 5th & 9th before this course, but this course gave me a lot more of Mahler to love.

Fitting honors to a musical genius

Robert Greenberg passionately delivered in his presentation on the life and works of the great Mahler. One of the most moving narrations I have ever heard along with examples of relevant music passages. Any classical music lover or enthusiast will love this course.

Another home run

This is the fourth of Greenberg's composer series that I have listened to, the others being on Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and Bach. While Mahler is my least favorite composer of the four, I thought that these lectures were the best I've heard so far. Greenberg connects Mahler's life with his music in very compact chunks that made me want to hear more. As usual, Greenberg's lecture style is charming and amusing and he moves the lectures along at a good pace.

If only could it be longer

Such a course feels like an appetizer. I want to hear more now. Is there a sequel?

How I wish there is more about his music

After listening to this rather short course in a few days, I share the opinion of quite a few other reviewers. I feel that there can easily be more in this course. Personally I am more interested to listen about Mahler's music and was disappointed that the course talked much about his life and not enough about his music.

Yea, sequel please?

Mahler

As a Classically trained musician, I’m sad to say, I had Mahler wrong. This fascinating lecture corrected the inaccuracies I had developed in my own mind after listening to the music of Gustav Mahler. I am happy to appreciate him now in the way he deserves. Thanks to Mr. Greenberg.