Gustav Mahler

""'Full of energy and subtle understanding, ' this is a Mahler biography for the twenty-first century. Downes weaves an intricate tapestry of the composer's life, loves, ideas and music that is as accessibly readable as it is intellectually and culturally stimulating.""--Jeremy Barham, author of 'Rethinking Mahler' ""Wide-ranging, richly detailed and deeply thoughtful, this is also a very readable and enjoyable book. Downes doesn't just relate the familiar stories, he questions them and asks what we should make today of the idea that Mahler's music tells the story of his life.""--Julian Johnson, author of 'Mahler's Voices'