Mahler was at the height of his compositional powers, but his personal life was in complete disarray, most recently compounded by the revelation that his young wife, Alma, had had an affair with the architect Walter Gropius.
Mahler era la apogeul abilității compoziționale dar viața sa personală era complet dezordonată, afectată de descoperirea faptului că soția sa Alma a avut o relație cu arhitectul Walter Gropius.