The Resume

(July 7, 1860-May 18, 1911)
Born in Kaliste, Bohemia, Czech Republic
Composed nine symphonies
Also composed 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen' ('Songs of a Wayfarer,' 1883-85), 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn' ('The Youth's Magic Horn,' 1888-96), 'Kinderotenleider' ('Songs on the Death of Children,' 1901-04) and 'Das Leid von der Erde' ('The Song of the Earth,' 1909)
Director of the Vienna Opera (1897-1908) and the New York Philharmonic (1909-11)

Why he might be annoying:

He converted from Judaism to Catholicism so he could be appointed director of the Vienna Opera.
Although his wife Alma had been a composer in her own right, he forbade her from following a music career during their marriage.
Deems Taylor said, 'Someday, some real friends of Mahler will take a pruning knife and reduce his works to the length that they would have been if the composer had not stretched them out of shape... The Ninth Symphony would last about 20 minutes.'
Because he believed ninth symphonies were cursed, he refused to give a number to his symphonic 'Das Lied von der Erde.'
The curse of the ninth caught up with him anyway.

Why he might not be annoying:

His daughter Maria died from diphtheria at age four.
He resigned from the Vienna Opera partly over frequent anti-Semitic attacks in the Austrian press.
Paul McCartney said, 'Mahler was a major influence on the music of the Beatles. John and me used to sit and do the Kindertotenleider and Wunderhorn for hours. We thought Mahler was great.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 4406)
• BBC Radio 4’s Saddest Classical Works [2004] (Ranked: 3)
• Born Half-Jewish
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 18]
• Catholics who are Partially Jewish
• I am a Jew who Converted to Christianity
• I Converted to Catholicism
• I Died in 1911 (Ranked: 50)
• I Outlived My Child
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Younger than Me
• Profiles 25001-25250 (Ranked: 25236)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 115 Votes: 65.22% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 44 Votes: 36.36% Annoying