Colorado MahlerFest

MahlerFest XXXVII
May 15-19, 2024

Mahler and the Mountains
Mahler and Strauss
Mahler and Schubert
Myths of Childhood

Featuring:
MAHLER Symphony No. 4
STRAUSS Eine Alpensinfonie
Death and the Maiden
Electric Liederland
Visions of Childhood & 
Free Symposium

For more information on MahlerFest XXXVII visit https://mahlerfest.org/mf37/

Colorado MahlerFest is the world’s longest-running celebration of the life and music of composer Gustav Mahler. The festival features a vibrant program of music, performed by world-class musicians

1. MahlerFest is about more than Mahler: We appreciate and enjoy Mahler’s music. We also use it as a lens through which to appreciate and enjoy the works of composers who influenced Mahler and by composers whom Mahler in turn influenced.
2. MahlerFest is about immersion: In an age of scrolling and skimming, we offer a rare opportunity to dive deeply into a symphony, to immerse ourselves in that piece and in its many musical and cultural connections.
3. MahlerFest is about community: Orchestra musicians, symposium participants, and audience members embark on a weeklong journey together. We bond through shared musical experiences as well as through informal social events.
4. MahlerFest is about beauty: Our Rocky Mountain foothills, much like those in which Mahler composed, are an ideal backdrop for experiencing works that are so heavily influenced by nature. Boulder’s breathtaking alpine environment is a major draw for musicians and audiences alike.
5. MahlerFest is about inclusion: We welcome musicians, symposium participants, and audience members from diverse backgrounds. We strive to break down stereotypes about classical music—about Mahler’s music in particular—and to ensure that all in our community feel valued and included. This music is for everyone.

Festival Orchestra

Under Artistic Director Kenneth Woods, The Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra draws together young professionals, conservatory and university students, and advanced amateurs under the leadership of an inspiring team of Festival Artists – principals, tutors, and mentors – to create an ensemble that blends aspiration and inspiration.

Festival Symposium

Colorado MahlerFest’s annual symposium features lectures, films, and discussions geared toward a broad audience. Leading scholars and experts offer historical and biographical information on Mahler (as well as on other composers, artists, and writers), his influences, and his legacy. Audience members are encouraged to interact with presenters. Whether you are a Mahler novice looking for an engaging introduction to his musical language or a longtime Mahler aficionado looking for a deeper understanding of Mahler’s compositional process and musical and literary influences, the MahlerFest symposium has presentations that will delight, inform, and inspire!

Core Values

The Mahler Legacy – We commit to preserving and expanding the legacy of Mahler as a composer by faithfully presenting all of his music while utilizing, promoting, and being an internationally important catalyst for research about his music, life, and world.

Inspirational Musicians – We commit to bringing world-class musicians to the festival to share their artistry and experience.

Aspirational Musicians – We commit to providing an opportunity for musicians of all types and ages to learn about and perform the works of Mahler.

Inclusivity – We commit to building and sustaining an inclusive audience for Mahler’s music by offering all of our programming to the broadest community possible and by engaging with underserved populations (Click here to read more about the work of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee).