The Gustav Mahler Society of New York will present leading Mahler singer and scholar Thomas Hampson in conversation with GMSNY President Lewis M. Smoley, on Tuesday, February 8 – 8:00 PM at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street (entrance on West 95th) in Manhattan.

In an informal conversational format, Mr. Hampson and Mr. Smoley will discuss: the influence of certain philosophers, such as Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, as well as lesser-known thinkers, such as Gustav Theodor Fechner (1801-1887) and Siegfried Lipiner (1856-1911), on Mahler’s worldview. Understanding the philosophical concepts of these thinkers, which had such a profound effect upon Mahler, can lead to greater understanding of what he sought to convey in his music.

Tickets for the February 8 event are $15 (GMSNY members $5) and are available at 212-864-5400 or http://www.symphonyspace.org/.

American baritone Thomas Hampson enjoys a singular international career as a recitalist, opera singer, and recording artist, and maintains an active interest in teaching, research, and technology. He has performed in all of the world’s most important concert halls and opera houses with many of today’s most renowned singers, pianists, conductors, and orchestras. He is one of the most sought-after soloists performing today.

The Gustav Mahler Society of New York is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of greater awareness and understanding of the music of Gustav Mahler through the dissemination of information about the composer and his works supplemented by a variety of programs and performances. Now that Mahler’s music has achieved a high level of popularity among lovers of classical music, the Society believes that the need for a resource for learning more about the composer’s life and works is greater than ever. In providing this resource, the Society engages in various activities by which it hopes to satisfy that need and stimulate even greater interest in the music of Gustav Mahler. Their website is at http://gmsnyc.org/.

For press inquiries or more information, please contact Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-586-3433 or [email protected].