The Gustav Mahler Celebration

On 7 July 2010 Kalit in Czech Republic, where Gustav Mahler was born on this very day 150 years ago, the music world celebrated one of the greatest composers ever. The renowned Mahler Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Austrian maestro Manfred Honeck, and world famous soloists will commemorate the composer with an unique outdoor live concert. Gustav Mahler was born into a Jewish family in Kalit on July 7, 1860 as the second of fourteen children. His exceptional musical gifts became apparent at an early age. He began giving music lessons when he was six, and at fifteen he was admitted to the Vienna Music Conservatory. He embarked on what was to become an extraordinary career as a conductor and operatic administrator when he was barely twenty. Mahler was best known during his own lifetime as one of the leading orchestral and operatic conductors of the day. He has since come to be acknowledged as one of the most important late-romantic composers.