The 100^th anniversary of Gustav Mahler’s death is the incentive to take a fresh look at his songs and to put them into a biographical and historical context. This concert juxtaposes the bleak Kindertotenlieder, written between 1901 and 1904, with his wife, Alma Mahler-Werfel’s highly expressive Fünf Gesänge (published in 1924, though written much earlier), which praise the ideal of a cosmic acceptance of life and love. Alma was appalled by Kindertotenlieder, whereas Gustav Mahler had strictly forbidden his gifted wife to compose any music. Only after the death of one of their daughters did Mahler finally acknowledge the high quality of Alma’s compositions. Nevertheless, until today Alma Mahler continues to be regarded as the muse and lover of famous men. Her own work as an artist is still undervalued.