Music lover Xiao Shitou never imagined she could watch a live performance of Gustav Mahler's (1860-1911) art songs in her home city while learning about the Austrian composer's life through narratives presented by his descendant.

"Mahler's works convey something beyond words," she says. "They offer profound solace and inner strength when I'm facing life's most challenging and frustrating moments."

Xiao was attending the activity, The Past and Present of Mahler's Art World. Held on May 28 at the White Night Poetry Space in Chengdu, Sichuan province, the event hosted by the city's foreign affairs office and Austria's consulate general in Chengdu aims to facilitate cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections between China and Austria.

Accompanied by Chinese pianist Wang Xinyuan, Austrian soprano Claudia Puhr presented three of Mahler's art songs — Erinnerung (Memory), Fruhlingsmorgen (Spring Morning) and Liebst du um Schonheit (If You Love for Beauty). In between the performance, pixelism artist Peter Mahler, a descendant of Gustav Mahler, shared insights into the composer's life and creative journey.

The event also featured an exhibition showcasing two dozen representative works by Peter Mahler, including portraits of his ancestor, composer Gustav Mahler. It marks the artist's first exhibition in China.

"As a pianist, my greatest regret is falling in love with Gustav Mahler's music only to find he focuses on symphonic works," Wang says.

He says he feels privileged to perform the composer's rare piano pieces at the event.

Wang has been captivated by the composer's symphonies since age 16, when he first listened to Symphony No 6 in A Minor.