Mahler’s Symphony No 8 is a work that is a lot more varied than is thought. It’s well-documented that the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ is at times epic, overwhelming and supremely powerful, but many don’t realise the balance and nuance in this work. In the run-up to performing it at St Paul’s Cathedral on Thursday 9 October with David Hill, the Philharmonia Orchestra, eight soloists and London Youth Choirs, we recorded two excerpts of the work in our rehearsals. As you’ll hear when you compare the two, this is a deep work that contains an enormous amount of depth.
Mahler’s epic introduction
It’s easy to see why the work is often commended for its enormous scale, which Mahler himself compared to the scale of the entire universe in this famous quote regarding the piece: “Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound. There are no longer human voices, but planets and suns revolving”
It’s definitely an enormous introduction. But that’s not all that this work has to offer…
The gorgeous Chorus Mysticus
The Chorus Mysticus happens in the finale of the work, and is restrained, beautiful and flowing.