Gustav Mahler is hailed as one of the most prominent and influential symphonic composers belonging to the 19th and early 20th century. His creation principally comprised of symphonic and song cycles that postulated complex orchestral scores. Though, Mahler scarcely tasted popularity and success as a composer during his lifetime, his talents as interpretive artist on the conductor's rostrums was immensely acclaimed and also earned him some of the most prestigious assignments as music director to reputed orchestras. Born in a Jewish family, he had to endure the anti-Semitic campaigns, which even led to his exile from Vienna, yet his artistic endeavors hardly seemed to cease. Gustav Mahler once stated, "Composing a symphony means, to me, building a new world with every available technical means. The ever-new and changing content determines its own form.” As a composer, he introduced many distinctive styles which in course of time laid a profound influence upon the Viennese composers of the following generations that instigated significant trends in operatic production setting new standards.