| 1879 |
31st of August: Alma Maria Schindler is
born in Vienna, |
| |
daughter of the landscape painter Jakob
Emil Schindler and his wife, German singer Anna von Bergen |
| 1881 |
Birth of Alma’s stepsister Grete |
| 1883 |
18th of May: Walter Gropius is born in
Berlin |
| 1884 |
Beginning of the year: Jakob Emil Schindler
acquires landed property in Plankenberg near Tulln in
lower Austria |
| 1885 |
Gustav Mahler becomes musical director
in Prague |
| 1886-88 |
Gustav Mahler becomes second musical director
at the Municipal theatre in Leipzig. |
| 1886 |
1st of March: Oskar Kokoschka is born. |
| 1888-91 |
Gustav Mahler becomes director of the Royal
Hungarian Opera in Budapest. |
| 1889 |
Jakob Emil Schindler obtains an assignment
of the Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf to paint Adria-landscapes.
The Schindler-family and Carl Moll travel south.
20th of November: World premiere of Gustav Mahler's 1st
symphony ("Der Titan”) in Budapest. |
| 1890 |
10th of September: Franz Werfel is born
in Prague. |
| 1891-97 |
Gustav Mahler is first musical director
at the municipal theatre in Hamburg. |
| 1892 |
Beginning of Alma's intensive occupation
with music.
First vacation of the Schindler-family to Sylt, Northern
Germany.
9th of August: Death of Alma’s father Jakob Emil
Schindler on Sylt. |
| 1894 |
First short-term visit to a school. |
| 1895 |
Max Burckhard, director of the Vienna Burgtheater,
furthers Alma's interest in classical as well as in contemporary
literature.
13th of December: World premiere of Gustav Mahler's 2nd
symphony ("Resurrection”) in Berlin. |
| 1897 |
Second marriage of Alma’s mother Anna
Schindler to painter Carl Moll, who had been Jakob Emil
Schindler’s assistant.
Gustav Mahler converts to Catholicism.
8th of October: Gustav Mahler is appointed director of
the Vienna Court Opera. |
| 1898/99 |
Alma Schindler in contact to the Viennese
Secession movement.
Friendship with Gustav Klimt.
Birth of Alma’s stepsister Maria.
Removal to the Theresianumgasse, Vienna. |
| 1900 |
Alexander Zemlinsky teaches Alma composition.
Alma gets acquainted to Arnold Schoenberg through Zemlinsky.
Intimate relationship with Alexander Zemlinsky.
22nd of January: Zemlinsky's opera "Es war einmal”
(Once upon a Time) has its premiere at the Vienna Court
Opera under the musical direction of Gustav Mahler. |
| 1901 |
The Moll-family moves into their house
on the "Hohe Warte".
7th of November: First invitation to Gustav Mahler.
25th of November: World premiere of Gustav Mahler's 4th
symphony in Munich.
27th of November: Mahler's first visit to the Moll house.
21st of December: Official marriage proposal to Alma Schindler.
23rd of December: Engagement.
World premiere of Gustav Mahler's "Klagendes Lied”
in Vienna. |
| 1902 |
12th of January: Viennese premiere of Mahler's
4th Symphony.
9th of March: Gustav Mahler and Alma Schindler marry in
Vienna.
Journey of three weeks to St. Petersburg, where Mahler
conducts concerts.
12th of June: World premiere of the 3rd symphony in Krefeld.
The Mahler couple is present at the concert.
Summer sojourn in Maiernigg.
3rd of November: Birth of daughter Maria Anna. |
| 1903 |
21st of February: premiere of Wagner's
"Tristan and Isolde”. Alfred Roller designs
the scenery, Gustav Mahler conducts.
Encounter with writer Gerhart Hauptmann. |
| 1904 |
Friendship with composer Hans Pfitzner.
Mahler family in Abbazia.
15th of June: Birth of daughter Anna Justine.
18th of October: World premiere of Mahler’s 5th symphony
in Cologne under Mahler's musical direction. |
| 1905 |
Through Alma’s kind offices, Pfitzner's
"Rose vom Liebesgarten” has its world premiere
at the Court Opera.
March: Stay in Abbazia
June: Alma Mahler with her children and mother Anna Moll
in Maiernigg.
Gustav Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder” have their
world premiere in Vienna. |
| 1906 |
27th of May: World premiere of Mahler's
6th symphony in Essen. |
| 1907 |
12th of July: Death of Alma’s daughter
Maria Anna.
14th of July: Funeral.
Breakdown Alma Mahler.
End of July: Gustav Mahler falls ill, and an acute heart
ailment is diagnosed.
Stay of the Mahler couple in Schluderbach/Tirol.
Crisis at the Vienna Court Opera.
15th of October: Mahler conducts for the last time at
the Court Opera. He severs his contract. Felix von Weingartner
becomes his successor in Vienna.
Trip to St. Petersburg. Igor Strawinsky is present at
the performance of the 5th symphony.
In Helsinki Mahler comes into contact with composer Jan
Sibelius.
Recovery vacation Alma Mahler at the Semmering, Lower
Austria.
24th of November: Gustav Mahler conducts his 2nd symphony
in the musical company.
9th of December: Alma and Gustav Mahler leave Vienna. |
| 1908 |
1st of January: Mahler conducts Wagner's
"Tristan and Isolde” at the New York Metropolitan
Opera.
Concert tour to Boston and Philadelphia.
Alma Mahler suffers an attack of weakness.
April/May: Return-trip to Europe.
Encounter with Dr. Joseph Fraenkel from New York.
Somme sojourn in Toblach. Maiernigg is sold.
Last visit to Max Burckhard in St. Gilgen.
19th of September: World premiere of Mahler's 7th symphony
in Prague.
The Mahler couple travel to New York once again with daughter
Anna.
Re-encounter with Dr. Fraenkel. Meeting with singer Enrico
Caruso in New York.
Mahler starts on the 9th symphony, after he finishes the
"Lied von der Erde”. |
| 1909 |
Quarrels at the "Metropolitan Opera”
with conductor Arturo Toscanini.
Beginning of the year: Mother Anna Moll in New York.
February: Alma Mahler suffers a miscarriage.
Concerts of Mahler in Paris and Amsterdam. Auguste Rodin
portrays the composer in Paris.
May: Nervous breakdown Alma Mahler. Recovery in Levico.
The Mahler couple take their third trip to America with
their daughter Anna.
Gustav Mahler becomes Chief composer at the Philharmonic
Society of New York. Concerts in Brooklyn, Philadelphia
and Buffalo.
More social contacts.
Initial work on the 10th symphony. |
| 1910/11 |
Walter Gropius builds the Fagus-Factory
in Alfeld. |
| 1910 |
April: Return to Europe.
Concerts in Paris, Leipzig and Cologne.
Sojourn of the Mahler couple in Rome.
End of May: Alma Mahler is taking the waters in Tobelbad.
There she meets Walter Gropius.
Meeting between Gustav Mahler and Sigmund Freud in Leyden.
12th of September: World premiere of the 8th symphony
in Munich.
Fall: Gustav Mahler sees to it that 5 Hymns by Alma Mahler
are published.
4th journey to America.
Opening for the concert season of the Philharmonic Society
and tour to Pittsburg and Buffalo.
The Mahler family buys a house in Breitenstein/Semmering. |
| 1911 |
Friendship with composer Ferruccio Busoni.
January: disagreements of the Philharmonic Society with
Mahler.
21st of February: Mahler conducts his last concert.
April: Alma drives to Paris with the mortally ill Gustav
Mahler.
Admittance into the hospital Andre Chantemesse.
Mahler is sent to the sanatorium Loew in Vienna by Professor
Chvostek.
18th of May: Gustav Mahler dies. Burial at the Cemetery
of Grinzing in the tomb of the daughter Maria Anna.
Removal with daughter to Vienna’s first district,
Elisabethstrasse.
Affair with biologist Paul Kammerer.
20th of November: First performance of the "Lied
von der Erde” with conductor Bruno Walter
Alma Mahler refuses a marriage proposal from
Dr. Joseph Fraenkel.
Franz Werfel "Der Weltfreund” (poems). |
| 1912 |
Friendship with composer Franz Schreker.
Spring: Oskar Kokoschka paints a portrait of Carl Moll.
Beginning of an intense relationship between Alma and
Kokoschka.
April: Alma Mahler with Lili Leiser in Paris.
26th of June: World premiere of Mahler's 9th symphony
in Vienna with conductor Bruno Walter.
Summer: Journey to Holland and - with Kokoschka - to Switzerland. |
| 1913 |
Oskar Kokoschka tries to persuade Alma
to marry him.
August: Trip to Tre Croci/Dolomiten (Italy) with Kokoschka.
Franz Werfel "Wir sind” (We are), poems and
"Die Versuchung” (Temptation), dramatic poem
in prose. |
| 1914 |
December: Alma starts writing letters to
Walter Gropius.
"Die Windsbraut” (The Tempest), painting by
Oskar Kokoschka.
The prize of the Mahler Foundation is awarded to Arnold
Schoenberg. |
| 1915 |
Kokoschka as cavalry soldier on the Russian
front. Severe injuries.
Spring: Alma Mahler with Walter Gropius in Berlin.
Gropius has to return to the front.
Alma arranges a Schoenberg-concert in Vienna.
18th of August: Wedding of Walter Gropius and Alma Mahler.
The prize of the Mahler Foundation is awarded to Julius
Bittner.
Franz Werfel "Einander”, poems. |
| 1916 |
22nd of April: World premiere of Werfel's
Euripides-adaptation "Die Troerinnen” in Berlin.
5th of October: Birth of daughter Manon Gropius. |
| 1917 |
Acquaintance with writer Franz Blei.
Fall: Alma gets to know Franz Werfel. |
| 1918 |
Walter Gropius is transferred to Berlin.
January: Beginning of a relationship with Franz Werfel.
July: Premature birth of son Martin Carl Johannes. |
| 1919 |
Walter Gropius founds the Bauhaus in Weimar.
Spring: Son Martin dies of progerea.
March: Alma visits Walter Gropius in Weimar with daughter
Manon.
Fall: Daughter Anna Mahler gets engaged to Rupert Kollner.
Franz Werfel "Die Mittagsgoettin”, magical play;
"Der Gerichtstag”, poems. |
| 1920 |
Beginning of the year: Trip to Italy with
Manon and Franz Werfel.
Visit in Amsterdam with Willem Mengelberg, who arranged
a Mahler festival.
The papers for a divorce of the Gropius' are filed on October 11th.
Franz Werfel "Nicht der Moerder, der Ermordete ist
schuldig” (It’s not the murderer’s but
the victim’s fault), novel. |
| 1921 |
Trip to Venice.
Visits of the composers Hans Pfitzner, Maurice Ravel,
Alfredo Casellas, Francis Poulenc and Darius Milhaud.
Beginning of the year: Daughter Anna marries Rupert Kollner.
15th of October: World premiere of Franz Werfel's play
"Der Spiegelmensch” (Mirrorman) in Leipzig.
Further staging in Vienna books little success. |
| 1922 |
Purchase of a house in Venice, "Casa
Mahler”.
Daughter Anna separates from Rupert Kollner. Later Anna
marries the composer Ernst Krenek and gets divorced again. |
| 1923 |
Temporarily stay in Venice and Semmering,
together with Werfel. |
| 1924 |
From draughts left behind by Gustav Mahler, Ernst Krenek
orchestrates two arrangements of the 10th symphony and
performs them in Vienna.
Franz Werfel "Verdi, Roman der Oper”. |
| 1925 |
Travels with Werfel to the Near Orient.
Alma in Nervi, from time to time Werfel
as well.
Close friendship with composer Alban Berg and his wife
Helene.
26th of May: World premiere of Werfel's play "Juarez
and Maximilian” in Vienna.
14th of December: Successful world premiere of Alban Berg's
opera "Wozzek” in Berlin. Alma and Werfel are
present at the opening night. The opera is dedicated to
Alma. |
| 1926 |
End of the year: Czech premiere of "Wozzek”
in Prague in the presence of Alma and Werfel. |
| 1928 |
Franz Werfel "Der Abituriententag”,
novel. |
| 1929 |
6th of July: Alma marries Franz Werfel.
Honeymoon to the Near Orient.
Third marriage of daughter Anna to Werfel’s publisher
Paul von Zsolnay.
Franz Werfel "Barbara oder die Froemmigkeit”,
novel. |
| 1931 |
Removal into the new big house on the "Hohe
Warte".
Daughter Anna separates from Zsolnay. |
| 1932 |
Budding inclination towards the Roman-Catholic
Church.
Beginning of a close and intimate friendship with the
professor of theology Johannes Hollnsteiner. |
| 1933 |
Franz Werfel "Die vierzig Tage des
Musa Dagh” (The 40 Days of Musa Dagh), novel. |
| 1934 |
April: Daughter Manon comes down with poliomyelitis
in Venice. |
| 1935 |
Easter: Daughter Manon Gropius dies. Alban
Berg dedicates to her his violin concert ("Dem Andenken
eines Engels” – "To the Memory of an Angel”).
Fall: Werfel couple in New York to see a performance of
Werfel's "Weg der Verheissung” (The eternal
Road).
Sale of Casa Mahler, Alma’s house in Venice. |
| 1936 |
Easter: Stay in Locarno. Memorial service
for daughter Manon.
The house on the "Hohe Warte" is given up. Apartment
in Milan. |
| 1937 |
At the World exhibition in Paris Anna Mahler
is awarded for her sculptures with a first prize
Franz Werfel "Hoeret die Stimme”, novel. |
| 1938 |
Alma and Franz Werfel in Milan. Continued
journey to Naples and Capri.
March: Alma-Mahler-Werfel leaves Austria to go into exile.
Travels to Prague, Zagreb, Triest and Milan, where her
husband is staying.
Invitation to Zuerich. Continued journey via Paris and
Amsterdam to London to see her daughter Anna. Return to
Paris.
Purchase of a renovated watchtower in Sanary-sur-mer.
Franz Werfel has heart troubles again. Recuperation in
the south of France.
November: Alma’s mother Anna Moll dies.
Winter: Stay in Paris. Visits by Franz Lehar, Bruno Walter,
Fritz von Unruh and Gustave Charpentiers.
Walter Gropius is appointed professor at Harvard-University/USA. |
| 1939 |
End of the year: Paris-sojourn.
Franz Werfel "Der veruntreute Himmel”, novel
(initially ”Der gestohlene Himmel” – "The
pinched Heaven”) |
| ca. 1940 |
(around) The mentally retarded sister Grete
is killed in Germany by the Nazi regime. |
| 1940 |
Werfel couple reaches Bordeaux, Bayonne
and Pau.
1st of July: Visit to Lourdes
3rd of August Return to Marseille.
12th of September Beginning of the journey to the USA
via Spain and Portugal, accompanied by Heinrich and Golo
Mann.
Emigration to the USA.
13th of October: Arrival in New York.
December: Alma and Franz Werfel move to
Los Angeles.
Friendship with Kate Berl. |
| 1941 |
In Los Angeles contacts with Arnold Schoenberg
and director Max Reinhardt.
Franz Werfel's novel "Das Lied der Bernadette”
(The Song of Bernadette) comes into being (published in
Stockholm).
Summer: Franz Werfel's father dies in Marseille.
September: Stay in New York. |
| 1942 |
Alma and Franz Werfel get acquainted with
writer Erich Maria Remarque. Friendship Alma with Remarque.
16th of March: Alexander Zemlinsky dies in Larchmont/New
York.
June: Visiting Werfel's relatives in New York.
September: Removal to Beverly Hills.
Franz Werfel makes friends with writer Friedrich Torberg. |
| 1943 |
Purchase of a summer residence in Santa
Barbara.
Franz Werfel suffers two heart attacks during a short
period of time.
November/December: More heart attacks Werfel.
23rd of December: Premiere of the movie "The Song
of Bernadette”. |
| 1944 |
Spring: Werfel's state of health improves.
Work on "Stern der Ungeborenen” (Star of the
Unborn) |
| 1945 |
Financial difficulties.
Alma suffers from general exhaustion and bouts of fever.
17th of August Werfel finishes in Santa Barbara the "Stern
der Ungeborenen”. Physical breakdown.
26th of August: Franz Werfel dies in Beverly Hills/ California.
29th of August Funeral in Beverly Hills. Igor Strawinsky,
Arnold Schoenberg, Otto Preminger, Otto Klemperer and
the Mann-Family participate in mourning ceremonies. |
| 1946 |
Alma Mahler-Werfel becomes an American
citizen. |
| 1947 |
Late Summer: Journey to Europe.
Visits to daughter Anna and granddaughter Marina in London.
Stay in Vienna. Efforts to secure her possessions.
Return to the USA. |
| 1948 |
Daughter Anna Mahler comes to visit Alma
in Beverly Hills. |
| 1949 |
Visit of Erich Maria Remarque and Benjamin
Britten.
Summer: Daughter Anna pays a visit to California again. |
| 1950 |
Daughter Anna and granddaughter Marina
move to Beverly Glen.
April: Alma has Gustav Mahler's score of his unfinished
10th symphony published in print. |
| 1952 |
Alma Mahler-Werfel moves to New York/Manhattan.
November/December: Trip to Paris. |
| 1953 |
January:/February: Stay in Rome.
During return-trip to the USA encounter with writer Thornton
Wilder. |
| 1954 |
Fall: Travels to Rome. |
| 1959 |
Benjamin Britten dedicates the "Nocturne
for tenor and small orchestra” to Alma |
| 1960 |
Alma Mahler-Werfel's autobiography "And
the Bridge is Love” is published. |
| 1962 |
Alma attends rehearsals of Gustav Mahler's
8th symphony under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. |
| 1964 |
31st of August: Celebration of Alma’s
85th birthday.
11th of December: Alma Mahler-Werfel dies in
New York. |
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