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The Alma Mahler Music Mix

Alma Mahler was a controversial figure in the hedonistic musical world of 20th-century Vienna. Listen to her melodies and the works of the composers who were inspired by her.

Alma Mahler was banned from writing music when she married classical music titan, Gustav Mahler. Only 17 of her songs survive today. However, her musical world was far from silent and she found herself at the epicentre of the movers and shakers of the Viennese cultural elite.

This playlist takes you to the heart of hedonistic Vienna with music by Alexander von Zemlinsky, her lover and teacher, as well as other admirers of this femme fatale: Alban Berg and Erich Korngold. Hear four of Alma’s surviving songs, her love of Stravinsky and working relationship with Leonard Bernstein, a famous interpreter and advocate of Gustav Mahler’s music. And on a more intimate note, Gustav’s love letter to her: the Adagietto from his 5th symphony.

Listen only on ѿý Sounds.

Release date:

1 hour

Music Played

  • Alma Mahler-Werfel

    Fünf Lieder: No. 2, In meines Vaters Garten

    Performer: Elise Caluwaerts. Performer: Marianna Shirinyan.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no.5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Symphonic Dances (From West Side Story): I. Prologue - Allegro moderato

    Performer: New York Philharmonic.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 35 - III. Finale: Allegro assai vivace

    Performer: Gil Shaham. Performer: André Previn. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
  • Alma Mahler-Werfel

    Fünf Lieder: No. 3, Der Erkennende

    Performer: Elise Caluwaerts. Performer: Marianna Shirinyan.
  • Alexander von Zemlinsky

    Frühlingsglaube · für gemischten Chor und Streichorchester

    Performer: Mülheimer Kantorei. Orchestra: Gürzenich-Orchester Köln. Choir: Mülheimer Kantorei. Conductor: James Conlon. Lyricist: Ludwig Uhland.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Firebird: Scene 2

    Performer: Andris Nelsons. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
  • Alma Mahler-Werfel

    5 Gesange (arr. J. Panula): No. 2. Ekstase (Ecstasy)

    Performer: Jorma Panula. Performer: Lilli Paasikivi. Orchestra: Tampere Filharmonia.
  • Franz Schubert

    Drei Klavierstücke, D.946: Drei Klavierstücke, D.946: III. Allegro

    Performer: Paul Lewis.
  • Josef Labor

    Piano Quartet in C Major, Op. 6: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

    Performer: Nina Karmon. Performer: Pauline Sachse. Performer: Justus Grimm. Performer: Oliver Triendl.
  • Alban Berg

    Schließe mir die Augen beide

    Performer: Daniel Hope. Performer: Simon Crawford‐Phillips. Lyricist: Theodor Storm.
  • Robert Schumann

    3 Romanzen, Op. 28

    Performer: Maria João Pires.
  • Alma Mahler-Werfel

    Einsamer Gang

    Performer: Rozanna Madylus. Performer: Counterpoise.