2nd Gustav Mahler Festival 2017
in Steinbach am Attersee
"Mahler, Brahms and Bicycling"
Introduction
“In the next few days I am going to take a little trip to Ischl where I have been meeting Brahms for years.”
The program took a look at Mahler’s relationship to a major contemporary, Johannes Brahms, whose death 120 years ago was marked in 2017. Both artists enjoyed the area around Steinbach, Mahler directly in the village and Brahms in nearby Bad Ischl. The younger composer visited the elder several times in the period between 1893 and 1896 and did so, in fact, on his bicycle. We indulged in this activity, as well, and reenacted Mahler’s trip. In Bad Ischl we were greeted by Mayor Hannes Heide, introduced to Brahms’s world, and finally heared some of his last works, some of which he worked on in Bad Ischl. Beyond this, the Festival, of course, offered great concerts and presentations, an exhibit, and a birthday party for Gustav!
Mahler and the village of Steinbach am Attersee
Gustav Mahler arrived in Steinbach am Attersee for the first time in the summer of 1893. The breathtaking surroundings worked wonders for Mahler’s creativity,
inspiring half a dozen songs and most of two enormous symphonies (2nd and 3rd) over the course of four summers (through 1896).
To get even closer to the nature around him and to be able to work in peace, the composer had a hut built in a meadow on the edge of the lake. That hut, or “Komponierhäuschen” as it is known in German, is still standing today and has become a point of attraction for Mahler lovers all over the world.
The Gustav Mahler Festival in Steinbach is an annual celebration held around the composer’s birthday (7 July) that presents musical gems as well as cultural and historical insights into this unique historical place. The program purposefully sets aside time for all participants to interact with one another and to enjoy the astounding natural setting in order to celebrate the many facets of Mahler’s inspiration.
Program 2017
All presentations in German unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, 6th July 2017
16:00 Festive Opening Gustav Mahler Composing hut
Nicole Eder, Mayor of Steinbach am Attersee
Dr. Martin Gschwandtner, Mayor of the political district Vöcklabruck
Dr. Morten Solvik, Artistic Director of the Festival, Board of the Mahler Foundation and the International Gustav Mahler Society
Aperitif presented by Kate&Kon
Musical accompaniment: the young folk musican of D`Schobastoaner
17:30 Mahler & Brahms in song and text banquet hall hotel Föttinger
admission € 25/person
Singing and readings from letters and recollections
Herbert Lippert, Tenor Vienna State Opera
Prof. Eduard Kutrowatz, Piano
Dominik Dos-Reis, speaker Gustav Mahler
Ferdinand Novitzky, speaker Johannes Brahms
Friday, 7th July 2017
10:00 200 years of bicycle: Progress, fashion and emancipation
Community center Steinbach
The history of the bicycle and Cycling as a Fashion and Leisure Sport in the Time of Gustav Mahler
Mag. Bernhard Robotka, managing director "Die Bachschmiede", Cultural Center Wals/Siezenheim
Dr. Rotraud Kohlberger, Black Snail Patterns
14:00 Uphill and Down: Mahler's Bicycle Tours Through the Austrian Landscape
Community center Steinbach
Presentation and Talk (in English)
Dr. Brent Wetters, Providence College
16:00 Information Session Presenting the Mahler Foundation
Community center Steinbach
With Marina Mahler, the composer's granddaughter, Dr. Morten Solvik, Jill Segal und Andrea Kleibel
18:00 New Art in the Gustav-Mahler-Saal
Gustav-Mahler-Saal, Seefeld
Opening of the new designed Gustav-Mahler-Concert hall
Leo Gander, managing director "Regatta" (regional development association)
Markus Wesenauer, artist MaxArt
19:30 Chamber Concert - Piano Quartet Gustav Mahler, Johannes Brahms und Richard Strauss
Gustav-Mahler-Saal, Seefeld
admission € 25,-/person
Gustav Mahler, Piano Quartet Movement in A minor (1876)
Johannes Brahms, Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60 (1875)
- Intermission -
Richard Strauss, Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 13 (1885)
Cristian Ruscior, Violin
Adrian Stanciu, Viola
Liina Leijala, Cello
Anna Magdalena Kokits, Piano
Saturday, 8th July 2017
09:00 to 11:00 KTM E-Bike Testcenter
Hotel Post Weissenbach
10:00 Start Musical Excursion Following Mahler’s Tracks to Bad Ischl
Bicycle trip from Steinbach and back (bus transfer available!)
12.00 Welcome greeting & introduction "Brahms in Bad Ischl"
Trinkhalle Bad Ischl
Hannes Heide, mayour Bad Ischl
Dr .Michael Kurz, historian
12:00 to 17:00 KTM E-Bike Testcenter
Trinkhalle Bad Ischl
14:30 Matinée Concert Brahms in Bad Ischl: Last Works
Trinkhalle Bad Ischl
admission EUR 25/person
Four Piano Pieces, Op. 119
Alexandra Silocea, Piano
Clarinet Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 120, No. 2
Petra Liedauer, Clarinet
Klaus Wagner, Piano
Vier ernste Gesänge, Op. 121
Matthew Rose, Bass
Deirdre Brenner, Piano
17:00 apertitif & barbecue in unique ambience at the lake
Lake pavillion Hotel Post Weissenbach am Attersee
Docking possibility for ships
19:30 Gustav Mahler’s 157th Birthday Party
Hotel Post Weissenbach am Attersee
Musical accompaniment: Folk Music Group D`Schobastoaner
Sunday, 9th July 2017
11:00 matinée concert Mahler: Symphony No. 9 version for chamber orchestra
Gustav-Mahler-Saal, Steinbach
admission EUR 25/person
St. Peter's Chamber Orchestra, University of Oxford, UK
John Warner, Conductor
Benjamin Cartlidge, Concertmaster
14:47 Special Trip with the Gustav Mahler Ship
Boad landing park Steinbach
Limited number of participants, reservation required, please call the telefonnumber of Stern & Hafferl:
0043-7666-7806
Program subject to change.