During his ten years in Vienna, Mahler had brought new life to the opera house and cleared its debts, but had won few friends—it was said that he treated his musicians in the way a lion tamer treated his animals.
În acești zece ani, Mahler a adus viață nouă operei și a șters datoriile dar a câștigat puțini prieteni – se spune că își trata muzicienii așa cum un îmblânzitor de lei își trata animalele.