Mahler was particularly distressed by the negative comments from his Vienna Conservatory contemporary, Viktor von Herzfeld, who had remarked that Mahler, like many conductors before him, had proved not to be a composer.
Mahler a fost dezamăgit de comentariul fostului său coleg de la Conservatorul din Viena, Viktor von Herzfeld, care a remarcat faptul că Mahler, ca mulți alți dirijori înaintea sa, a demonstrat că nu este compozitor.