Gustav Klimt and his colleagues broke away from the imperially endorsed art institutions in Vienna in 1897 and founded the Secession. That was the same year that Gustav Mahler arrived to take charge of the Opera House in the city.

Comparing these two influential fin de siècle talents, this lecture explores Klimt and Mahler within the cultural and artistic world of Vienna at the turn of the century, examining what fundamentally links them and, equally, what divides them.

Lecturer: Gavin Plumley

Gavin Plumley is a writer and broadcaster who appears on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 and contributes to newspapers, magazines, and opera and concert programmes worldwide.

He lectures widely on the culture of Central Europe. His appearances include Klimt and The Kiss, screened in cinemas worldwide, and talks for the Hay and Cheltenham Literature Festivals, the Royal Opera House, the National Gallery, the National Trust, the National Theatre, the British Museum and the V&A.

His first book, A Home for All Seasons, was published in 2022. His second, The Gay Apocalypse: Queer Life and Culture in Vienna 1900, explores the rich cultural history of Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century.

Date: Friday 17th September 2027
Venue: The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Rd, Flitwick, Bedford MK45 1AH