Gustav Mahler
- Gustav Mahler was born in Kalsicht (sometimes spelt Kalist), Bohemia on 7 May 1860 and died in Vienna on 18 May 1911.
- Although he was born Jewish, Mahler converted to Catholicism. Mahler's work was banned by the Nazis.
- In 1902 Gustav Mahler married Alma Schindler, who published his letters and other documents after his death. Of aristocratic stock Mahler's wife became a noted composer and painter in her right. She lived until 1964.
- In many ways, in his own lifetime, Gustav Mahler was best known for his work as a conductor. Although he wrote nine symphonies, Mahler seperated the symphony Das Lied von der Erde, for superstitious reasons: Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner had all died after completing nine symphonies.
- Tim Smith, the music critic of the Baltimore Sun, suggests further reading on Gustav Mahler: Mahler by Jonathan Carr (Overlook Press, 1998) and Gustav Mahler: The Symphonies by Constantin Floros (Amadeus Press, 1993).