Tickets

Programme

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 8 in E flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”

Cast

Sarah Wegener soprano
Kateřina Kněžíková soprano
Miriam Kutrowatz soprano
Stefanie Irányi mezzosoprano

Jennifer Johnston mezzosoprano
David Butt Philip tenor
Adam Plachetka barytone
David Leigh bass

Prague Philharmonic Choir
Lukáš Vasilek choirmaster

Kühn Children’s Choir
Jiří Chvála choirmaster

Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno
Joel Hána choirmaster


Czech Philharmonic
Semyon Bychkov conductor

Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major, known as the Symphony of a Thousand, is one of the most monumental works in the symphonic repertoire. It was completed in 1906 and premiered on September 12, 1910, in Munich under Mahler’s own direction. The title Symphony of a Thousand was not coined by Mahler himself but arose due to the immense forces required—at the premiere, approximately 1,000 musicians performed, including eight soloists, two mixed choirs, a boys’ choir, and a large orchestra.

The symphony is unique in its structure—rather than following a traditional multi-movement form, it consists of two vast sections. The first part sets the Latin hymn Veni, Creator Spiritus to music, while the second part is based on the final scene of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust. The work merges sacred and philosophical themes, representing the pinnacle of Mahler’s efforts to integrate symphonic and vocal music.