wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

As the life of composer and conductor Gustav Mahler sank into difficulty and despair, he wrote some of his greatest symphonies and song cycles. Stuart Feder, psychoanalyst, professor, and author of Gustav Mahler: A Life in Crisis, joins us to share his analysis of what allowed Mahler, in his toughest times—the death of his parents and of his daughter, harrowing medical difficulties, and a rough divorce—to create his most innovative work. This begs the broader question: exactly how does mental health and emotional stability affect creative work and expression? We also take listener phone calls on the topic as we’re joined by the producers of “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster.” That documentary film went behind the scenes, into the therapy sessions of the most commercially successful heavy metal band of all time.
Additional Resources:
» Some Kind of Monster Web site
» Gustav Mahler: A Life in Crisis on Yale University Press