The composer Gustav Mahler was born the son of a poor itinerant Jewish salesman in a tiny viIlage in what is now the Czech Republic. His astonishing and influential career as a conductor and director of opera, including ten years as musical director of the Vienna Opera, would have singIed him out as someone speciaI. However his 9 symphonies and other orchestral works are now seen as his greatest contribution to music. The program teIIs of his life and deveIopment and is folIowed by an overview of his compositions.