Why did Gustav Mahler make enemies while directing the Vienna Opera?

Gustav Mahler’s tenure as director of the Vienna Court Opera (1897–1907) was marked by significant artistic success, but his management style created friction with his staff.

Mahler was a fanatical idealist who demanded an unprecedented standard of performance. He drove both himself and his artists with a ruthless energy that, while inspirational to some, often disregarded personal considerations. This intense, uncompromising approach to his work alienated many of his colleagues, ultimately leading to a faction of employees who actively worked toward his dismissal.1