Gustav Mahler Festival Steinbach

The Gustav Mahler Festival Steinbach brings together musicians, historians, actors, storytellers, and environmentalists in an annual event dedicated to Gustav Mahler, who spent the summers of 1893 through 1896 on the shores of Lake Attersee at the Föttinger Inn. Focal point is the composing hut that stands at the edge of the lake where Mahler completed the Second and Third Symphonies and numerous songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Each year reflects a topic relevant to the setting. Past years have presented “Mahler, Brahms, and Bicycling”, “Mahler, Folk Art and Des Knaben Wunderhorn”, “Mahler the Wanderer”, and “Gustav on Vacation: Mahler, Klimt, and Viennese Society on Lake Attersee”; this year’s festival will be dedicated to “Natalie Bauer-Lechner: Mahler’s Confidante and Pioneer of Her Time”. Bringing together concerts, discussion panels, presentations, outdoor events and simply time to mingle in an intimate setting, the programming is designed to bring the audience into close contact with the performers and presenters and, above all, the stunning natural beauty of this place, which did so much to inspire Mahler.

ARGE Gustav Mahler Festival Steinbach is a working group (ARGE = Arbeitsgemeinschaft) of private individuals (Mag. Georg Föttinger and Dr. Morten Solvik) dedicated to the promotion of Gustav Mahler in Steinbach am Attersee. Since 2016 they have been responsible for the annual Gustav Mahler Festival in Steinbach am Attersee. Our team includes expertise in graphic arts, artist management, editing and copyright, translation, and sponsorship; in addition, of course, are the artists and curators who contribute to the program of a particular year. Mag. Georg Föttinger is the owner and manager of the property that includes Gustav Mahler’s composing hut, built on the grounds of the Föttinger Inn in 1894; he was the co-founder of the Gustav Mahler Festival Steinbach in 2016 and leads the local arrangements of the annual Mahler festival. He is also involved in the regional tourist board. Dr. Morten Solvik is a musicologist specializing in Gustav Mahler and author of the permanent exhibit in the Steinbach composing hut. As co-founder of the Gustav Mahler Festival Steinbach, he serves as its Artistic Director. Active on the boards of the Internationale Gustav Mahler Gesellschaft (Vienna) and Mahler Foundation, he brings organizational, musical and scholarly expertise to the ARGE.