Patrick Bade
Alma: “The Loveliest Girl in Vienna”
Summary
Patrick Bade discusses Alma Mahler-Werfel (1879–1964), the Austrian composer, author, editor, socialite and the wife of Gustav Mahler. Musically active from her early years, she was the composer of nearly fifty songs for voice and piano, as well as works in other genres.
Patrick Bade
Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.
Because she did have, or she did lots of practical things in the house. But of course, she always had servants to do a lot of the work.
I don’t know. To me, well, I did talk a little bit about that. I think that she wanted somehow to feel beautiful, and there was this stereotype that Jews were not beautiful. I dunno, there’s some very complicated psychological mechanism going on there.