Mahler, Wagner.... and Jesse James?

Jul 10
2 min read

What can these 3 possibly have in common? Well, keep reading to find out!

Clockwise from upper left: Gustav Mahler, Jesse James, Richard Wagner, and..... a train robber!

Did you know that while Jesse James was busy robbing a train in Missouri on July 7, 1875, Austrian composer-to-be Gustav Mahler was half a world away celebrating his 15^th birthday?! Mahler was also embarking on something far more positive than relieving passengers of their valuables…. He was preparing to begin his musical studies for the 1875-76 school year at the Vienna Conservatory after auditioning for the renowned pianist Julius Epstein.

Mahler graduated from the Vienna Conservatory in 1878, but sadly, few of his student compositions were preserved. So it is unclear what his work may have sounded like at the time. One thing that is well known and recorded from his time at the Vienna Conservatory, however, is how greatly he was influenced by the work of Richard Wagner, leading to his later becoming a leading interpreter of Wagner’s operas.

Image: Gustav Mahler

Wagner’s approach to harmony, orchestration, and the scale of his symphonic works, as well as his innovative use of lush orchestration resonated with Mahler, who sought to expand these elements in his own compositions.

It was this inspiration offered by Wagner and the years at the Vienna Conservatory that set up the young Mahler to go on to great musical heights. In fact 1882 offers yet another stark comparison between the budding composer and the American outlaw Jesse James: it was in the early months of that year that Mahler conducted his first full-scale opera (Verdi's Il Trovatore) while at almost the exact same time Jesse James was shot and killed by fellow gang member Robert Ford.

Fortunate for us and the world of music, while young men in America were idolizing the romantic stories of a wild west outlaw, Mahler found mentorship in an established musical icon and continued to grow and succeed……. creating what some have described as “earth-shattering pieces of music” including his symphonies nos. 4, 5, 6, and 9, and his widely acclaimed Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)—a collection of six songs performed by solo tenor, alto, and orchestra, subtitled as a symphony.

If you, like Mahler, have a true appreciation for Wagner, then you will not be disappointed with the Naples Community Orchestra’s 2026 season: An International Feast! While Mahler will not be “in attendance” Richard Wagner and his work will be featured several times throughout the season, along with 12 other composers, including Verdi, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Mozart.

This will truly be an NCO season not to be missed! Be it Mediterranean Mezze, Opera à la Carte, Germanfest, or French Suites – each of the season’s four concerts will be a unique and joyful event.

Be sure to visit the Naples Community Orchestra website early and often for more details, tickets, and season passes.