Sunday, November 15, 2015

Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen

Mahler Ballroom

This blog gets me into corners of St. Louis I've never visited before. I found this on a bit of Washington Avenue between Euclid and Kingshighway that's closed to through traffic. Never seen it before.

Now I love Gustav Mahler. On our first date, I took Mrs. C to the St. Louis Symphony to hear Walter Susskind conduct the First Symphony. (I wonder what she thought she was getting into.) I'd like to imagine that I could conduct Das Lied von der Erde from memory. (Sure, I'd like to think that, but it's complete fantasy.) However, this post has nothing to do with Gustav Mahler whatever. 

Albert Mahler established a dance academy for the young in downtown St. Louis in 1860. In 1907 he built this sumptuous home for his family, complete with a 4,000 square foot / 372 square meter ballroom in the center. In 2004, new owners restored the Mahler Ballroom to opulent splendor. Now it's a space for upscale weddings and events. 

(The reference in the title, by the way, is to one of G. Mahler's song cycles, Songs Of A Wayfarer. Which, in an overblown sense, it what I was about when I found this.)
                         

6 comments:

Halcyon said...

I also love Gustav Mahler's works. Especially when they have the Mahler Box.

s.c said...

That puts you really on the wrong track. But a nice find.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I think Mrs C would have thought it a tres romantic first date Bob! Good links here, the Mahler ballroom is fantastic.

William Kendall said...

I like the look of the place. One would be reminded of the composer first.

Norma said...

I've lived in St. Louis all my life and never seen this!

cieldequimper said...

I'm not a huge Mahler fan but this is a gorgeous place!