Every summer in July, the Gustav Mahler Music Weeks draw lots of fans of classical music and especially of Gustav Mahler to Toblach in lush green Pustertal Valley. Gustav Mahler, the composer bridging Romantic and Modern music, spent 3 summers (between 1908 and 1910) in Toblach prior to his death from heart disease on 18th May 1911.

The secluded spot away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season

Mahler lived with his family in a private manner. “Clearly, Gustav Mahler must have noticed the picturesque and quiet position of our house while out walking and rented the flat in the spring of 1908, and it was still occupied by his widow in 1911. It is a large, spacious flat with ten rooms and a pleasant enclosed veranda in the old style of a castle. The house is a former manor house in Toblach and dates back to the times of Emperor Maximilian. In the large drawing room the ceiling displays the coat of arms of the Lords of Leis.“ (Marianna Trenker, in a living tribute to Gustav Mahler, penned in 1938).

The tranquil surroundings that set the scene for creativity

Five minutes away, enclosed in a quiet fir wood, there is a plain hut where Gustav Mahler worked. Every year, in the spring, three pianos were delivered and carried to this hut. He spent most of his time there, and no one – not even his wife – was allowed to bother him. Early in the morning, everything he needed for his breakfast had to be ready: tea, coffee, butter, honey, eggs, biscuits, fruits, and poultry. (Marianna Trenker)

The fruits of creative energy

Three works first heard the sounds of the world in Toblach: Das Lied der Erde (The Song of the Earth) – Mahler himself wrote in a letter to Bruno Walter: “I do not really know what to call the whole composition. A wonderful time was granted to me and I think that it is the most personal thing that I have done so far“ – as well as the 9th and 10th (unfinished) Symphonies.

The Gustav Mahler Music Weeks

In 1981, when Mahler had yet to enjoy the fame that he has today, the Gustav Mahler Music Week was held for the first time. This event, which nowadays is famous all over the world, ran into a few obstacles along the way. It wasn’t until 1999 that a deserving venue was inaugurated in the form of the Gustav Mahler Hall, which meets the requirements for concerts and lectures. Gustav Mahler’s works and musicality are always the focus. And so it is that we are looking forward to a meeting of great Mahler experts and interpreters of Mahler’s music once again this year. Nearly every day, from 18th to 20th July, and with a special concert on 6th August, persons of international standing will commemorate the wonderful composer who bridged Romantic and Modern music. You can find the complete programme here .

A initial insight into the modern world of private rooms may be gained at Südtirol privat.