Symphony no. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand”
The Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major by Gustav Mahler is one of the largest-scale choral works in the classical concert repertoire. As it requires huge instrumental and vocal forces it is frequently called the "Symphony of a Thousand", although the work is normally presented with far fewer than a thousand performers and Mahler greatly disapproved of the name. The work was composed in a single inspired burst at his Maiernigg villa in southern Austria in the summer of 1906. The last of Mahler's works that was premiered in his lifetime, the symphony was a critical and popular success when he conducted the Munich Philharmonic in its first performance, in Munich, on 12 September 1910.
Movements
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: a. Veni creator spiritus (Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: b. Imple superna gratia (7 Soli, Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: c. Infirma nostri corporis (7 Soli, Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: d. Tempo I (Allegro, etwas hastig)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: e. Infirma nostri corporis (7 Soli)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: f. Accende lumen sensibus, infunde amorem cordibus (7 Soli, Chor, Knaben Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: g. Tu septiformis munere (7 Soli, Chor, Knaben Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: g. Veni creator spiritus (reprise) (7 Soli, Chor, Knaben Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: I. “Veni, creator spiritus”: h. Gloria sit Patri Domino (7 Soli, Chor, Knaben Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: a. Poco adagio
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: b. Più mosso (Allegro moderato)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: c. "Waldung, sie schwankt heran" (Chor und Echo)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: d. Ewiger Wonnebrand (Pater Ecstaticus)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: e. Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Füssen (Pater Profundus)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: f. "Gerettet ist das edle Glied" (Engel - Chor und Knaben Chor))
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: g1. "Jene Rosen, aus den Händen" (Engel - Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: g2. "Uns bleibt ein Erdenrest" (Engel - Chor mit Alto solo))
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: h1. "Ich spür' soeben" (Die jüngeren Engel - Knaben Chor))
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: h2. "Hier ist die Aussicht frei" (Doctor Marianus, Knaben Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: i. "Höchste Herrscherin der Welt" (Doctor Marianus, Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: j. "Dir, der Unberührbaren" (Chor, Una Poenitentium))
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: k1. Bei der Liebe, die den Füssen (Magna Peccatrix)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: k2. Bei dem Bronn, zu dem schon weiland (Mulier Samaritana)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: k3. Bei dem hochgeweihten Orte (Maria Aegyptiaca)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: k4. Die du großen Sünderinnen
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: l. "Neige, Neige, du Ohnegleiche" (Una Poenitentium)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: m. "Er überwächst uns schon" (Knaben Chor, Una Poenitentium)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: n. Komm! Hebe dich zu höhern Sphären! (Mater Gloriosa und Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: o. "Blicket auf zum Retterblick" (Doctor Marianus, Chor und Knaben Chor)
- Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: Symphony no. 8 in E-flat major “Symphony of a Thousand”: Part II. Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust: p. "Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis" (Chorus Mysticus, soloists)
Recommended recordings
- Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks · Rafael Kubelík YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra · Georg Solti YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
Most recent recordings
- Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major "Symphony of a Thousand" — Gustav Mahler, Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov (2026) Spotify
- Mahler: Symphony of a Thousand Piano Variation (From Symphony No. 8, Arr. for Piano by Tim Allhoff) — Gustav Mahler, Louis Philippson (2023) Spotify
- Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major "Symphony of a Thousand" (Live) — Gustav Mahler, Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä (2023) Spotify
New releases via Spotify — surfaced automatically, not editorial picks.

