Time and again, Mengelberg tried to persuade Mahler to conduct his own works in Amsterdam. See Gustav Mahler himself in the Netherlands , , , and During these visits, the composer was staying with the Mengelbergs at their home House Willem Mengelberg. Mengelberg was one of the most important Mahler pioneers who deserves a special place of honour in our remembrance.
In addition, many of these scores also contain instructions and remarks of Mahler himself: tangible and visible evidence of the close ties between Willem Mengelberg and Gustav Mahler. Mengelberg was the fourth of fifteen children of German-born parents in Utrecht, Netherlands. In , when he was 20, he was chosen as General Music Director of the city of Luzern Switzerland, where he conducted an orchestra and a choir, directed a music school, taught piano lessons and continued to compose.
Four years later, in , when he was 24, Mengelberg was appointed principal conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, a position he held until Year In this position, Mengelberg was to premiere a number of masterpieces.
Mengelberg founded the long-standing Mahler tradition of the Concertgebouw. He met and befriended Gustav Mahler in , and invited Mahler to conduct his Third Symphony in Amsterdam in ; and on October 23, , Mahler led the orchestra in his Fourth Symphony twice in one concert, with no other work on the program. Probably and not : Utrecht, Netherlands. Published by Allert de Lange, Amsterdam. About concert Concert Amsterdam — Symphony No. Left side: Remarks Alma Mahler. Page in print.
Postmark Vienna State Opera. Mahler regularly visited The Netherlands to introduce his work to Dutch audiences, including also his First, Fifth, and Seventh Symphonies, as well as Das klagende Lied and Kindertotenlieder. Mahler edited some of his symphonies while rehearsing them with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, making them sound better for the acoustics of the Concertgebouw. This is perhaps one reason that this concert hall and its orchestra is renowned for its Mahler tradition.
