Relation to Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Nephew of Gustav Mahler.
Austrian conductor.
- Born: 16-07-1901 Vienna, Austria.
- Father: Ludwig (Ludvik) Mahler (09-07-1859-1927). Professor Polygrotten Institute in Vienna. Central cemetery. Grave T4, 12-2-15. Aged 67. (Grandfather of Henry Mahler.)
- Mother: Agnes Schuschury/Schuschny (1864).
- Half-brother: Georg Mahler (1893). Ludwig Mahler was first married to Hermine Fischer Lederer (Grandmother of Henry Mahler). Their child: Georg Karl Mahler (30-04-1893 – 14-02-1976)
- Sister: Hedwig Philipp Mahler (21-12-1899-1965)
- Brother: Paul Mahler (16-02-1903)
- Marriage: Yes (1939-1973)
- Wife: Pauline Koner (1912-2001). Dancer and choreographer.
- Children: No
- Profession: Conductor
- Died: 18-06-1973 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, America. Aged 71.
- Buried: Unknown
Also: Friedrick Siegfried Mahler.
Generations
- Abraham Mahler (1720-1800) (level of connection in family tree with Gustav Mahler (1860-1911))
- Marcus Mahler and Ludmila Holzer
- David Mahler and Barbara Heller
- Ludvig Mahler (1859-1927)
- Fritz Mahler (1901-1973)
Fritz Mahler was born in Vienna, where his father was professor of Oriental languages at the university. Coming from a family with great musical traditions (Fritz is a relative of Gustav Mahler), his talents in music were fostered. He studied musicology with Guido Adler (1855-1941) at the University of Vienna (1920-1924), conducting with Leopold Reichwein, and composition with Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951), Anton Webern (1883-1945) and Anton Webern (1883-1945).
By the time he graduated from the University of Vienna in 1924, Fritz Mahler had already conducted in Bad Hall (1920-1924), the Vienna State Opera, the National Theater in Mannheim, as well as the Volksoper in Vienna. Soon after graduation, Mahler conducted the Berlin Radio Symphony. In 1930 he moved to Copenhagen to conduct the Danish State Symphony Orchestra. Mahler was a permanent conductor for this orchestra from 1930-1935.
From 1935 to 1947 Mahler experienced major changes in both his private and professional life. Invited by the Columbia Broadcasting Company to conduct a series of concerts in New York, Mahler came to the USA in 1935. Shortly after his arrival, he took on duties as musical director of Phildadelphia’s La Scala Opera Company.
Fritz Mahler (1901-1973) and the Hartford Symphony Orchesta. Das klagende Lied.
In 1939 Mahler became a United States citizen and married Pauline Koner (renowned dancer and choreographer). From 1939-1950, Mahler was associated with the Juilliard Summer School of Music as director of the opera department and teacher of advanced conducting. He also was guest lecturer at Barnard College and Fredonia State Teachers College. From October 1940 to September 1941, Mr. Mahler was the Director of Music for the National Youth Administration in New York.
Erie. Fritz Mahler (1901-1973).
From 1947-1953 Fritz Mahler was conductor of the Erie (Pa.) Philharmonic orchestra. Under his leadership, the Erie Philharmonic became nationally known for the many important and interesting works which were performed for the first time in this country. In the October 1951 issue of Musical America, the Philharmonic received special citations for its services to American contemporary music.
From 1953-1964 Mahler was the conductor of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO). In his effort to expand the Orchestra’s role in the musical life of Greater Hartford, Mahler left a lasting legacy on the institution – e.g. the Young People’s Concerts he organized at the Bushnell are an HSO tradition and the Hartford Little Symphony, founded during his first season, was a forerunner of today’s Hartford Symphony Chamber Orchestra. With the Hartford ensemble, he made several recordings and introduced some important works to American audiences.
Fritz Mahler’s contract with the HSO was not renewed and so he chose to explore conducting assignments in Europe, Asia and South America. From 1964 to 1969, he engaged in these musical tours abroad.
Recordings
- Symphony No. 5. Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della Rai (16-07-1958), conductor Fritz Mahler (1901-1973): Video
- Das klagende Lied. Orchestra Sinfonica e Coro di Roma della Rai (13-07-1960), conductor Fritz Mahler (1901-1973). Margherita Kalmus (soprano), Giovanna Fioroni (alto), Giacinto Prandelli (tenor): Video
Obituary
NYT 19-07-1907:
WINSTON?SALEM, N. C., June 18—Fritz Mahler, the conductor, died today at a nursing home. He was 72 years old and had lived at 340 West 72d Street’, New York.
Mr. Mahler was born in Vienna on July 16, 1901, of a family that had already pro duced one famous composer and conductor, his cousin, Gus tav Mahler. He studied con ducting in Vienna under Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern and Alban Berg, and at 21 he was an assistant conductor of the Volksoper. After further exper ience in Mannheim, Berlin and Dresden, he joined the Danish State Symphony and spent five years in Copenhagen.
Mr. Mahler came to the Unit ed States in 1936 and was guest conductor of many sym phony orchestras and operatic groups. In 1940 he was named conductor of the National Youth Administration Sym phony Orchestra. For 11 years he was director of the opera department of the Juilliard Summer School.
He conducted the Erie (Pa.) Philharmonic Orchestra from 1947 to 1953, and then led the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, until 1964. With the Hartford ensemble, he made several re cordings and introduced some important works to American audiences.
In 1967?68 he taught at Tokyo University.
His widow, Pauline Koner, dancer, survives.