'Mahler Cycle' Busan Philharmonic Orchestra to Perform 'Symphony of a Thousand' with 400 Musicians

At Busan Concert Hall on June 18

The Busan Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 at its 631st regular concert, which will be held at the Busan Concert Hall on June 18.

Among Mahler's works, Symphony No. 8 is renowned for its immense scale. At its premiere in Munich, Germany, in 1910, more than 1,000 performers took the stage, earning it the nickname "Symphony of a Thousand."

Not only does the piece have a high level of artistic difficulty, but it also requires a large orchestra, eight vocal soloists, and a choir of hundreds of adults and children. As a result, it is a masterpiece that is rarely performed live.

This performance will feature approximately 400 participants, including the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, Busan Metropolitan Chorus, Ulsan Metropolitan Chorus, Gimhae City Choir, Classic Busan Choir, Busan Metropolitan Boys and Girls Choir, and Gimhae City Boys and Girls Choir. Artistic groups from Ulsan and Gimhae will join forces with those from Busan to present a large-scale collaborative performance representing the region.

The work is based on the 9th-century hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" and Goethe's "Faust," delivering messages of love, salvation, and creation. Through the process of uniting different voices and performances into a single piece of music, it expresses the universal values of humanity and art.

The performance will be conducted by Busan Philharmonic Orchestra's principal guest conductor, Hong Seokwon. Since 2024, the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra has been presenting the Mahler Cycle, performing all of Mahler's symphonies, beginning with Symphony No. 1 "Titan."

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