In Alma’s Music Salon
The composer and salonnière Alma Mahler-Werfel
Sophie Heinrich and Paul Rivinius pay tribute to the famous muse. It was considered an honor and an artistic distinction to be invited to "In Alma's Music Salon" in early 20th century Vienna. The hostess was Alma Mahler-Werfel, wife, lover, muse and a legendary figure in Viennese society life. Who would the young Alma Mahler invite to join her and her husband Gustav Mahler for a musical salon at both of their Viennese residences? Which composers would she invite to perform their new works in a small chamber music setting? What few people know: Alma composed herself, but had to bury her own composition dreams when she married Gustav Mahler at his request. She studied composition with Alexander Zemlinsky and was in close contact with Pfitzner, while Richard Strauss and his wife Pauline were frequent guests of the Mahler couple. Sophie Heinrich (violin) and Paul Rivinius (piano) invite us into Alma's music salon and play works by the "house guests". Between the pieces, Sophie Heinrich explains the program and its historical context.
Concert introduction "In Alma's music salon"
Alma Mahler-Werfel is still said to have been defined solely by her relationship with her husbands and other important artists of her time. Little attention is paid to her own musical talent and her own artistic work as a composer. Sophie Heinrich was inspired by Alma Mahler's works and researched her role as a salonnière. This resulted in the program "In Alma's Music Salon", which she presented together with Paul Rivinius. In her presentation, Sophie Heinrich not only provides musical and historical information. She also asks why, decades after Alma Mahler-Werfel's work, there is still a struggle for equal opportunities between the sexes.
In Alma's music salon - The program
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Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942): Serenade in A major for violin and piano
- Alma Maria Mahler (1879 - 1964): Songs for high voice, arrangement for violin and piano: "Bei dir es traut" (Rainer Maria Rilke), "Waldseligkeit" (Richard Fedor Leopold Dehmel)
- Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1964): Song for high voice, arrangement for violin and piano: "Liebst du um Schönheit"
- Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949): Sonata in E flat major for violin and piano, op. 18