Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major "Symphony of a Thousand"

Featuring

Antoni Wit
Barbara Kubiak
Ewa Marciniec
Izabela Kłosińska
Jadwiga Rappé
Marta Boberska

Piotr Nowacki
Timothy Bentch
Wojciech Drabowicz
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University Choir
Polish Radio Choir
Warsaw Boys Choir
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Gustav Mahler

Did you know?

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Critical Reception

Mahler's Eighth Symphony was dubbed 'Symphony of a Thousand' due to its large forces, a subtitle Mahler never sanctioned but which became representative of the work.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Mahler described the impact of the closing pages of his Eighth Symphony by saying, 'Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound'.

Notable Performances

The first two performances of Mahler's Eighth Symphony in Munich, on September 12th and 13th, 1910, were considered by Mahler to be his greatest triumph as a composer.

Recording & Production

This recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 was made at the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall from June 1st to 6th, 2005.

Composition History

Mahler's Eighth Symphony, despite its complexity, was composed with surprising suddenness and rapidity, taking even the composer by surprise.

Album & Artwork

The cover image for this album is 'The Bride' by Gustav Klimt, an Austrian Symbolist painter.

Composition History

Mahler initially intended to avoid intensive composing in 1906 and had themes for a four-movement orchestral work, but the words of the hymn 'Veni creator spiritus' inspired him to set the text to music in days.