28. September 2022, 16:09
What had shaped his theater work before, he now also implemented in Vienna: he fought once morest the sloppiness hidden under the cloak of “tradition” in everyday operations – and he began, unusual at the time, in new productions with equipment and light on an equal footing with the musical to make interpretation; all the arts should mesh together on stage to form an expressive whole.
To the broadcasts
appeal | 27 09 2022
Opernabend | September 29, 2022 – “From Love Death” with V.-L. Boecker, F. Boesch and others L. Viotti/choir and orchestra of the Vienna State Opera
1897, 125 years ago, in the Vienna Court Opera: On May 11 of that year, Gustav Mahler gave his inaugural performance as conductor on this stage with tremendous success; Wagner’s “Lohengrin” was on the schedule. On October 15, he was appointed director of the house – the ten-year “era Mahler” that revolutionized the scenic quality of opera performances began. Mere ramp singing, as was still common at that time, was anathema to him; he demanded that his singers penetrate the characters to be portrayed. The auditorium was already darkened before the overture, and latecomers were only allowed into the hall during the breaks.
Style-forming “Honour Mahler”
The director himself, more than almost anyone else, directed up to 100 performances per season – and since there was no director in today’s sense at the time, Gustav Mahler also worked on the performance himself with the artistic staff. Countless model performances that have an effect far into the future were created in Vienna at that time.
But as great as the artistic success of his work was, Gustav Mahler’s tenure as opera director was accompanied by hostilities and obstacles to his ambitions; In 1907 he resigned and left Vienna. “Instead of something complete and complete, as I dreamed of, I leave behind a piece of work, something unfinished: as it is intended for people,” were his parting words. And yet the “era Mahler” was formative and style-defining – not only for the Vienna Opera alone, but for the music theater business in general.
Calixto Bieito is directing
Even before his work in Vienna, Gustav Mahler was Royal Opera Director in Budapest and First Kapellmeister in Hamburg. He appeared in many places as an opera conductor, but as a composer he never wrote for the stage. And yet you will now be able to experience music by Gustav Mahler staged in the Vienna State Opera. Calixto Bieito will direct the fairytale play “Das klagende Lied” for soloists, choir and orchestra.
The very early Mahler work from the years 1879/80 is supplemented by the much later written “Kindertotenlieder” on texts by Friedrich Rückert – “Von der Liebe Tod”, a homage of the State Opera to one of its most important directors.
