Mahler's Heavenly Retreats

  

events

recent events

Lecture: Mahler's Heavenly Retreats: Encounters with the master's 'Composing Houses'
Date: July 9, 2008

 

published papers

Paper 1: Gustav Mahler, places he loved and his inspiration
The Gustav Mahler Society of the United Kingdom - The Wayfarer Vol. 6 Issue 2
July 2007

Read paper

Paper 2: Mahler and JB: Two great artists in search of the sublime
The Barbirolli Society Journal. Spring Edition 2008

Read paper

Welcome to Mahler's Heavenly Retreats events. These events will enrich your understanding of the roots of Mahler's inspiration, revitalise your passion for the work of this great artist, provide a deeper insight into the environment where Mahler wrote his music and provide opportunities for new friendships and discussion.

upcoming events

The Architectural Influences on the Writings of Mahler

A round table discussion in association with PROMS 2008. Mahler's First Symphony will be performed later in the evening at the Royal Albert Hall.

Venue: Royal College of Music, London

Date: Thursday 11th September 2008

Time: 17.45-18.30

Presentation 3 (1893-1896)

Keith James Clarke in association with the GMS UK presents Mahler's Heavenly Retreats: The Enchanted Cottage

Venue: The Barbican Library, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Date: Monday 24th November 2008- date to be confirmed. (Free tickets should be obtained for this event directly from the Barbican Library.) John Lake, Librarian, Barbican Library, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

Time: 7.15-8.45pm

Presentation 4 (1893-1911)

Keith James Clarke in association with the GMS UK presents Mahler's Heavenly Retreats: Mahler's Composing Houses Revisited.
Reading by actor Richard Burnip.

Date: March 2009 - for details write to me (address on this website) or contact me using the contact form.

Summer School presentations for City Lit - 2008/9

Are you passionate about architecture and music? Have you thought about how buildings - places and spaces - inspire writers, artists and composers? Winston Churchill has - he said,

We shape buildings, thereafter buildings shape us.
In this unique investigation we will consider how creative figures have sought out their genius loci (the unique spirit of place) to inspire them in their life.

In particular you will hear how Gustav Mahler, a seminal figure in the world of music at the end of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th, arranged for the construction of three simple buildings - three studios - dedicated to the creation of his music. These summer retreats beside forest, mountain and lake provided a spiritual home for him.

Venue: City Lit Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 4BA (020 7831 7831)

(1893-1896) 3/7/2008 Time: 18.00-20.00
(1901-1907) 10/7/2008 Time: 14.00-16.00
(1908-1911) 17/7/2008 Time: 18.00-20.00

Other 2008/9 presentations for City Lit

Mahler's First Summer Retreat (1893-1896)
In this presentation we will consider Mahler's place for composition in Upper Austria where he was inspired to create Symphonies Two and Three.

Date/Time: 26th October 2008 (11.00am - 13.00pm)

Mahler's Second Summer Retreat (1901-1907)
Here we will explore Mahler's place for composition in Southern Austria where he was inspired to create Symphonies Four, Five, Six, Seven and Eight.

Date/Time: 25th January 2009 (11.00am - 13.00pm)

Mahler's Third Summer Retreat (1908-1911)
In this final presentation we will examine Mahler's place for composition in the south Tyrol where he was inspired to create The Song of the Earth plus Symphonies Nine and Ten.

Date/Time: 7th June 2009 (11.00am - 13.00pm)

There is an evocative and dynamic relationship between Mahler's music and the particular 'places' where he composed his symphonies.

Keith James Clarke

Keith James Clarke
Who are the events for?
The lectures are designed for scholars, music and Mahler enthusiasts and take place at a central London venue with presenters Keith James Clarke and live or recorded contributions by actor Richard Burnip.
 
What's included?
The multimedia presentations will include film, music and sound recordings, extracts from a specially prepared radio programme together with architectural drawings and analysis to define a new way of thinking about Mahler. The Lecture Series celebrates Mahler's life – his extraordinary music and genius.

During each lecture there will be readings from the book Mahler's Heavenly Retreats: Encounters with the master's Composing Houses.
 
Who are the speakers?
Architect Keith James Clarke (pictured above) is an Associate Lecturer at Chelsea, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and Director of Mahler's Heavenly Retreats. He has practised in Birmingham and London as well as Cambridge where he made a film about one of his commissions. In this investigation he applies his expert knowledge of buildings and their sites to key places where Mahler lived and worked.

Richard Burnip is an actor and historian whose work involves numerous audio books. He is also the voice on various documentary programmes.