Wiener Philharmoniker / Nelsons

The opening with organ and choirs sounds more like a large liturgical work than a symphony. Gustav Mahler had already integrated singing into his 2nd, 3rd and 4th symphonies. However, the Eighth is the first in which singing is used throughout. In addition to eight vocal soloists, there are two large mixed choirs and a boys' choir. In addition to strings and organ, the instrumentation includes lots of brass, percussion, harmonium, celesta, mandolin and six harps, as well as a long-distance orchestra. »It's the biggest thing I've ever done ... Imagine that the universe begins to sound and resound. It is no longer human voices, but planets and suns orbiting«, Mahler wrote to the conductor Willem Mengelberg in August 1906 after completing the work. The performance of the monumental work by the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Andris Nelsons – on three consecutive days promises to be as precise as it is overwhelming.