The digitized items on this site are a selection of personal correspondence from the Gustav Mahler-Alfred Rosé Collection.
The full collection includes personal correspondence, concert documents, scores, manuscripts, recognition, primary publications, secondary publications, university papers, photographs, recordings, memorabilia and artifacts mainly relating to the private and professional lives of Gustav Mahler, Alfred Rosé, Arnold Rosé, Alma Rosé, Bruno Walter, Justine Rosé, and Maria Rosé.
Gustav Mahler was a famed conductor and composer in the 19th and 20th centuries. He was born on July 7, 1860 in Bohemia and died on May 18, 1911 in Austria. Throughout his life he rose in fame and notoriety, establishing himself as one of the leading conductors of his generation. He held conducting posts in many opera houses in Europe and was appointed the director of the Vienna Court Opera (Hofoper) in 1897. Throughout his career he collaborated and communicated with other largely known musical contemporaries.
Alfed Rosé was born in Austria on December 11, 1902, and died in Canada on May 7, 1975. He held conducting positions at the Vienna State Opera, Burgtheater, and in various institutions in Berlin. In 1938, Alfred and his wife Maria fled Austria to avoid Nazi occupation. In 1945 they immigrated to London, Ontario, Canada where Alfred had accepted a faculty position at the University of Western Ontario. He became a naturalized Canadian, taught at the university, and led many musical productions and musical therapy sessions throughout the city. After his death his wife accepted a posthumous doctorate degree from UWO in honour of Alfred’s extensive work at the university.
