The Mahler Project - Germanic Creative Expression

Butler University, the American Pianists Association, the German Consulate, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis Opera, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Max Kade Center at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis and WFYI have organized a series of events throughout 2009–2010 to honor the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860), commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (9 November 2009) and celebrate Germanic creative expression. You can see the whole schedule here.

First up, at 7:30 p.m. 10 September, is a presentation on "The Two Gustavs: Mahler, Klimt, and Vienna's Golden Decade, 1897-1907" by Alessandra Comini in the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. It is open to the public at no charge.

Awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor by the Republic of Austria for contributions to Germanic culture, and voted "outstanding professor" 19 times by her students at Columbia and Southern Methodist Universities, Comini has published eight books in the fields of art history and musical iconography, concentrating on 19th and 20th century Vienna. Her publications range from Egon Schiele's Portraits (nominated for a National Book Award) to The Changing Image of Beethoven: A Study in Mythmaking.

This lecture focuses on the hurdles and prickly reception imperial Vienna afforded the works of its leading composer and painter and explores the interlocking history of both men with the aspiring composer Alma Schindler Mahler.

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