Great Masters: Mahler - His Life and Music

De: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Robert Greenberg

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.

All I never knew…

His life and the music, both explained clearly and in an interesting manner. A great listen.

Not a Musical Person BUT-

I am not a music person. This is why I listen to audiobooks. However the author/narator is an incredible speaker and has really turned me on to symphonies.

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.