Gustav Mahler: Memories and Letters - Signed and Inscribed to Menahem Pressler

New York: Viking Press. 1946. 369 pp. A very good copy in original gray cloth, lacking the dust jacket. Signed and inscribed in German by Alma Mahler on the front free endpage to Menahem Pressler (b. 1923), German-born American pianist, founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio: "To my friend Menahem Pressler with good wishes for his life as an artist - that is the beloved path! Alma Mahler."

A remarkable association copy of Alma Mahler's memoir of her life with Mahler, and a selection of the letters he wrote to her.

"Alma Mahler - the beautiful wife of composer Gustav, whose affairs with the painters Klimt and Kokoschka, and the architect Walter Gropius, were legendary - once invited him to play in her house. 'It was extremely hot, and I said to her, 'Mrs Mahler, may I take my jacket off?' She said, 'Mr Pressler, as far as I'm concerned, you can undress completely.' She opened the window, and when I protested that my playing might disturb the neighbours, she said, 'Don't worry, you can wake them all up!'" (Kate Connolly, interview with Pressler, The Guardian, 11/13/08) (7429)

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Signed Document/Item

Classical Music

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