mahler’s next job was in leipzig. the orchestra of the neues stadttheater was larger and much better than any he had worked for until then. one of the conductors who worked there was arthur nikisch. he was very famous, and the young mahler was often criticized because he was very different to nikisch and the way he conducted. when nikisch was ill mahler conducted "die walküre" and "siegfried". this helped him to show that he was a great conductor. he met the grandson of the composer carl maria von weber who gave him sketches for an opera "die drei pintos" which weber had left unfinished. the sketches were very difficult to read, but mahler completed the opera and performed it. he also worked at his own compositions and he met richard strauss who was to remain a close friend until his death.