Mahler Trivia, Week One
Who directed the 1974 Movie “Mahler?”
Luchino Visconti
Ken Russell
Werner Herzog
Franco Zeffirelli
Scroll down for the answer and to learn more…
Ken Russell directed the 1974 film “Mahler,” an outrageous and less than factual depiction of the composer. It’s fun to stream and play “Name that Tune” with the different Mahler’s scores in the soundtrack. It’s available in its entirety on YouTube.
Luchino Visconti’s 1971 masterpiece “Death in Venice” is based on the Thomas Mann novella of the same name. The plight of the main character, von Aschenbach, was inspired by Mahler’s sometimes tormented sexuality. The Adagietto from the Fifth Symphony figures prominently in the movie score.
Franco Zeffirelli, who once worked as Visconti’s assistant, directed many filmed and staged operas, as well as many hit movies. His only musical bio-pic was “Young Toscanini,” which screened in 1988 and included Elizabeth Taylor in the cast.
Werner Herzog, the prolific German director, once made a TV documentary about the famous (and homicidal) Renaissance composer, Carlo Gesualdo. In addition to his more than 40 films, Herzog has directed many major opera productions, including Lohengrin at Bayreuth and Norma in Verona.