Alma Mahler
Alma Mahler-Werfel (born Alma Margaretha Maria Schindler; 31 August 1879 – 11 December 1964) was an Austrian composer, author, editor, and socialite. Musically active from her early years, she was the composer of nearly fifty songs for voice and piano, and works in other genres as well. 17 songs are known to have survived. At 15, she was mentored by Max Burckhard.
Alma Mahler | |
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Mahler in 1909 | |
| Born | Alma Margaretha Maria Schindler 31 August 1879 Vienna, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 11 December 1964 (aged 85) New York City, US |
| Burial place | Grinzing Cemetery, Vienna |
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| Spouses | Walter Gropius
(m. 1915; div. 1920) |
| Children | 4, including Anna and Manon |
She married composer Gustav Mahler, who later began to support her in composing and assisted in preparing some of her works for publication, but he died in 1911. In 1915, Alma married Walter Gropius, and they had a daughter, Manon Gropius. Throughout her marriage to Gropius, Alma engaged in an affair with Franz Werfel. Following her separation from Gropius, Alma and Werfel eventually married.
In 1938, after Nazi Germany annexed Austria, Werfel and Alma fled, as it was unsafe for the Jewish Werfel. Eventually the couple settled in Los Angeles. In later years, her salon became part of the artistic scene, first in Vienna, then in Los Angeles and New York.