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[title]Still moved by the passing of his father, Ángel Mahler —a key figure in Argentina’s musical scene and his greatest inspiration— Damián has found music to be the best way to honor him. He is doing so by leading two projects that were on his father’s agenda: symphonic versions of Spiderman and The Godfather, multimedia shows that combine giant screen projections with live orchestra in a sensory journey that celebrates the power of art and shared memory.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DAMIÁN MAHLER ON QUÉ PASÁ POR GLUP!
Spiderman will be performed on August 30 and The Godfather on September 25, both at the Gran Rex, with tickets already available. In this interview, Damián shares memories, reflects on his father’s enduring legacy, and celebrates the passion they both shared —a passion that marked their lives forever.
A childhood among scores
Looking back, he can’t help but think of his childhood and its deep connection to music through his father. “My earliest conscious memory is when Drácula was performed at Luna Park. My mom would take my brother and me to the side of the stage where my dad was conducting, and we’d run to hug his leg while he directed the finale. I think that’s one of the most beautiful memories I have: that connection —a whole stadium vibrating, his music, the play, and everything it created. And also, lots of memories of being in the studio with him: he’d let me press a button on a rack. That button probably didn’t do anything, but he’d say: ‘Okay, press here now,’ and I was like, okay, I had my task, and I’d do it.”
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Raised in an environment where melodies and theater were everyday life, Damián recalls that the decision to devote himself to music came at age twelve, when his father bought a grand piano and he was immediately captivated by it. Although he had complete freedom to choose his own path —and at one point dreamed, like many kids, of being a soccer player— the influence of such a talented and devoted father was inevitable. Over time, their conversations evolved: from teacher and student, they became colleagues exchanging ideas and insights.
"The decision to pursue music came at the age of twelve when his father bought a grand piano"
A symphonic pulse with cinematic soul
Damián admits he enjoys a certain eclecticism in his work: “I love the presence of symphonic music in popular contexts: whether it’s adding orchestra to the Beatles’ music, performing film soundtracks, or bringing retro music arrangements into symphonic universes. It’s the same with musical theater, which merges academic and popular instruments to tell a story,” he says enthusiastically. “Telling stories through music, and how it becomes an extension of words, really moves me. The idea that music arises when words are no longer enough, and we need a medium to expand expression —that’s what drives me.”
"I love the presence of symphonic music in popular music settings"
The Spiderman and Godfather concerts will be especially meaningful, since they were projects his father had envisioned. “I’m used to stepping into his role because I started out directing his works and being part of his universe, but of course this time is different. I think my brother and I are the living legacy of what my dad was and will always be. He passed this passion for music onto us; he introduced us to this world, and it was an invitation we couldn’t resist —it took us over completely, and it excites us every single day.”
Music and cinema in perfect sync
Multimedia concerts pose a unique challenge: “You have to play with the precision of a Swiss watch; the music must be exactly synchronized with what’s happening on screen, leaving no room for improvisation. Unlike other works, where you can decide on tempo or intensity, here you must follow every instant like a perfect stopwatch,” Damián explains.
In Spiderman, the complexity increases with the mix of symphonic and electronic sounds, since the orchestra will share the stage with a DJ. The Godfather, on the other hand, strikes a more intimate chord: “It touches me personally because it’s Italian music, and my dad’s entire family was Italian. There I feel a closeness —in style, in sound, in expression. The challenge is to live up to the expectations of all the fans who’ll be there.”
John Williams, the compass
If he had to pick one movie that left its mark, he doesn’t hesitate: E.T. by Steven Spielberg, with music by John Williams. “There’s something in that music, in that film, told from a child’s perspective of the adult world —not fully grasping its logic. The way Williams builds that musical discourse, reaching the final moment when the bicycles escape the police and fly through the forest, moves me like nothing else.” Williams is his ultimate reference: “Since Jaws in 1975, he brought symphonic music into the popular sphere. He made mainstream audiences listen to an orchestra as if it were a pop song.”
Between legacy and future
Another key part of his journey is his own experience of fatherhood, which mirrors his dad’s. Since the birth of his daughter, Damián has found himself reflecting: “When you become a guide for another human being who looks at you as if you have all the answers, I like to draw parallels with my childhood —to imagine what my dad did in those same situations, and understand those experiences from another perspective.”
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Meanwhile, the musician in Damián —who embraces his legacy— keeps a packed schedule, preparing new performances of The Abitur, Back to the Orchestra, and Home Alone Symphonic. He is also looking ahead to 2026, when he hopes to return to his other great love: musical theater.
PING PONG ABOUT BUENOS AIRES
An unforgettable musical: Drácula, without a doubt
A song that’s the soundtrack of your life: Seminare
A café to sit and write: El Gato Negro
A walk to recommend to a tourist: “When I’m a tourist in another city, I love walking around. So I’d recommend walking down Avenida Corrientes from Callao to Florida, and exploring Florida Street to see the incredible cultural offerings Buenos Aires has, especially in theater. If they prefer green spaces, I’d suggest the northern corridor around Figueroa Alcorta.”
A neighborhood to honor in a song: “I grew up and lived much of my adult life near the Obelisco —the theater district. I don’t know if it counts as a neighborhood, but I’d write a song for Avenida Corrientes.”
A cantina for a great meal: “Not sure if it counts as a cantina, but a good pizza at El Cuartito.”
A sound that reminds you of childhood: “All the keyboards my dad used back then. He composed and produced with them. Whenever I hear a Yamaha DX7, I instantly remember my childhood —it takes me 30 years back.”