Mahler: Symphony No. 8

Mariss Jansons united the Concertgebouworkest, eight vocal soloists and five choirs in Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8. An impressive work by a huge cast.

Mahler’s Symphony No. 8

According to himself, Gustav Mahler was seized by the creative spirit on the first day of the vacation in the summer of 1906, and plunged immediately into composition of his Symphony No. 8. Having chanced on a 9th-century Christian hymn, Veni, creator Spiritus (‘Come Holy Spirit, creator’), he ‘saw the complete Eighth Symphony immediately before my eyes’.

Mariss Jansons, chief conductor

In March 2011 Mariss Jansons joined the Concertgebouworkest, sopranos Christine Brewer, Camilla Nylund and María Espada, mezzo soprano Stephanie Blythe, contralto Mihoko Fujimura, tenor Robert Dean Smith, baritone Tommi Hakala, bass Stefan Kocán, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the State Choir ‘Latvija’, the Bavarian Radio Choir, the Netherlands Boys’ Choir and the Netherlands Children’s Choir together in an impressive performance of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony – because of the huge cast also known as the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’. Mariss Jansons was chief conductor of the Concertgebouworkest from 2004 to 2015. Their alliance was unprecedented and intensive, which instigated world-wide recognition.

 

Mahler’s Symphony No. 8

According to himself, Gustav Mahler was seized by the creative spirit on the first day of the vacation in the summer of 1906, and plunged immediately into composition of his Symphony No. 8. Having chanced on a 9th-century Christian hymn, Veni, creator Spiritus (‘Come Holy Spirit, creator’), he ‘saw the complete Eighth Symphony immediately before my eyes’.

Mariss Jansons, chief conductor

In March 2011 Mariss Jansons joined the Concertgebouworkest, sopranos Christine Brewer, Camilla Nylund and María Espada, mezzo soprano Stephanie Blythe, contralto Mihoko Fujimura, tenor Robert Dean Smith, baritone Tommi Hakala, bass Stefan Kocán, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the State Choir ‘Latvija’, the Bavarian Radio Choir, the Netherlands Boys’ Choir and the Netherlands Children’s Choir together in an impressive performance of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony – because of the huge cast also known as the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’. Mariss Jansons was chief conductor of the Concertgebouworkest from 2004 to 2015. Their alliance was unprecedented and intensive, which instigated world-wide recognition.

 

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