Already at an early age Mahler had made it clear that his ultimate goal was an appointment in Vienna, and from 1895 onward was manoeuvring, with the help of influential friends, to secure the directorship of the Vienna Hofoper.
Xa a unha idade temperá, Mahler deixara claro que o seu obxectivo final era un posto en Viena, e dende 1895 en diante manobrou, coa axuda dos seus amigos influíntes, para asegurarse a dirección da Hofoper de Viena.