Name: Gustav Mahler: Symphonie Nr. 8
Genre: Music
Duration: 1 h 17 min
Rating: 8.7
Cast: Edda Moser, Judith Blegen, Gerti Zeumer

Mahler's eighth Symphony "Symphony of a Thousand" is not his most accessible(no. 1) of his symphonies, but it is a truly monumental work, in the top 3 of his best symphonies and one of the best pieces he wrote. To hear or see a truly great performance of this work, look no further than this 1975 performance which is just spellbinding. So good in fact that the underpowered organ and Kenneth Riegal's voice sounding strained in his admittedly stratospheric and treacherous part can be overlooked. Humphrey Burton's filming is sensitive and almost cinematic, it's not intrusive, it doesn't linger too long on person or object and it directs itself to each person who gets to shine in a way of acknowledgment. The orchestra play like angels, bringing the right amount of whimsy, joy, intensity and mystery to a work that calls for all those things, a special mention has to go to the brass section who are particularly magnificent in the final section, a very reaching for the skies sort of moment. The chorus are well-blended and sound great, very generous in size and warm in sound. It was very difficult not to be moved to tears by the final chorus, it always does so and is so beautifully done here. Leonard Bernstein not only leads the orchestra, chorus and soloists amazingly, and with great musicianship(Mater Gloriosa is sentimental but really striking in tone colour and dynamic range) but does so with a great deal of feeling and enthusiasm. The soloists shine too with only Riegel coming across as somewhat of a disappointment. Jose Van Dam sings Pater Profundus more than ardently and with a sound that's very focused and sonorous-sounding. Edda Moser sings with great intelligence and characterises with dramatic conviction, also hitting some terrific top Bs and Cs. The same goes with Judith Blegen, her voice is not quite as big as Moser's but she makes a beautiful sound. Agnes Baltsa's voice is rich and creamy with a lot of sincerity. Gerti Zeumer and Ingrid Mayr sound positively angelic, while Hermann Prey has the right authority and vocal warmth though his part is not as showy. To conclude, a brilliant and just heavenly performance. 10/10 Bethany Cox

German cinema is famous for its historical depth, expressionist aesthetics, and social-political engagement. It has moved from Expressionism to political reckoning, from New German Cinema's raw realism to contemporary genre experiments. Its legacy lies in both technical innovation and deep explorations of history, morality, and philosophy.

The music genre features stories showcasing musical performances, music-related documentaries and recordings of live concerts and music festivals.

Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Gustav Mahler: Symphonie Nr. 8

Photos

Top Cast9

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed