Mahler (Bohemia-Austria) - major modern Jewish composer of nine symphonies. His eighth, "Symphony of a Thousand", requires one thousand performers. Mahler was forced to convert to Christianity as a prerequisite to accepting the post director of the Vienna Court Opera. He did not show any remorse. His most important song cycles are Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (1884) and Kindertotenlieder (1900-02). The last 4 years of his life he conducted the Metropolitan Opera and the N.Y. Philharmonic.