Dear Friends of the Mahler Forum,

Unbelievable! In 2025, the Mahler Forum is taking place for the fifth time. Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in five movements is one of his most popular works. The major parts of this symphony were written in the years 1901 and 1902 at the Gustav Mahler Composing Hut in Maiernigg, one of the Mahler Forum’s venues. 

This year’s edition is entitled:
The Sound of Listening – Lending an Ear as Political Force

Listening is much more than absorbing information passively—it is a deliberate act of empathy, solidarity, creativity, and participation. It opens up new perspectives, stimulates change and resistance, and encourages us to open up to the world.

What has meanwhile become the Mahler Forum’s unique selling point is the awarding of a composition commission—powered by Kelag—to promote New Music. This has also been continued in 2025. We look forward to the world premiere of the work by Tinkara Zupan, a young composer and student at the Gustav Mahler Private University.

In an exciting dialogue, sociologist Iris Dankemeyer, author of the book Die Erotik des Ohrs [The Eroticism of the Ear], and philosopher Martin Mettin will explore the role of listening in our societies.
Artist Toni Schmale, by exploring the historical site of Gustav Mahler’s Composing Hut at Maiernigg, has developed a site-specific work in line with this year’s theme.
Let us explore together how we can build bridges, facilitate understanding, and initiate positive change in our world through attentive listening.

On Board:
Musicians: Ivan Beaufils, ensemble of the Alma Mahler Musikverein, conducted by Alja Klemenc
Keynote speakers: Iris Dankemeyer, Martin Mettin, Morten Solvik, Felicitas Thun-Hohenstein
Artistic intervention: Toni Schmale
Project management and co-curator: section.a (Julia Bildstein, Katharina Boesch)


Let’s listen together!
SAVE THE DATE – June 13 & 14, 2025!
Further news and the detailed program will be online soon!


The Mahler Forum for Music and Society  looks forward to welcoming you again! 
Felicitas Thun-Hohenstein, Morten Solvik & section.a