Gustav Mahler

The story traces Gustav Mahler's childhood and first musical steps in Jihlava - from his early talent in his family environment, through his first musical education to public concerts and the admiration of the local community. In the background is the atmosphere of multicultural Jihlava in the second half of the 19th century, where the German, Czech and Jewish worlds meet. The film ends with Mahler's last concert in Jihlava and his symbolic departure into the great world of music.

The place of action

Destination.
Specific Locations:

• Mahler family house (now Mahler House, Znojemská Street)
• Church of St. James - where Mahler was influenced by the regenschori Jindřich Fischer
• City Theatre - the site of Mahler's public debut in 1870
• Hotel Czap (today's Grand Hotel) - concerts in the hall
• Gymnasium and burgher schools - educational environment
• Parks, squares and streets of the city - the everyday life of little Gustav

Characters

• Gustav Mahler - the main character, a child with exceptional musical talent
• Bernhard Mahler - his father, a liquor merchant, supportive of Gustav's talent
• Marie Mahler - his mother, caring and sensitive
• Heinrich Fischer - regenshori at St. Jacob's, Gustav's key musical mentor
• Jakub Sladký, Brož, Žižka - first music teachers
• Local townspeople, musicians, teachers and classmates - a social circle that reflects Mahler's growing exceptionalism

History and cultural context

Jihlava in the second half of the 19th century was an important cultural and economic centre with a German-Czech population and a Jewish community. Mahler spent a crucial period of his life here (1855-1875), when his musical sensibility was formed.

The musical life of the city was rich, with theatres, concert halls and church music. The city had a tradition of music academies and social evenings, which the young Mahler attended. His first performance in the Jihlava theatre (1870) and subsequent concerts prove that he was already considered an exceptional talent. The influence of the local environment was reflected in his later works - especially in his early songs and symphonies.

Films made:

Mahler, 1974, Ken Russel
https://www.csfd.cz/film/7978-mahler/prehled/#google_vignette
Gustav Mahler, 2010, Petr Ruttner
https://www.csfd.cz/film/294709-gustav-mahler/hraji/

Gustav Mahler, 2011, Jiří Nekvasil (edited film from the original series Krajan G.M., 2009, Jiří Nekvasil)
https://www.csfd.cz/film/877256-gustav-mahler/recenze/

Mahler on the Couch, 2010, Percy Adlon
https://www.csfd.cz/film/254685-mahler-na-gauci/prehled/