The highlight of the International Mahler Festival in Leipzig in May 2011 was the final performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 - the so called “Symphony of a Thousand”. Riccardo Chailly commanded almost five hundred musicians in this monumental Mahler symphony, a work which the composer regarded as his Opus Summum.

 The audience experienced a fulminate performance of the Gewandhausorchester zu Leipzig under the baton of its chief conductor Riccardo Chailly, without doubt one of the most exciting Mahler interpreters of our days. Orchestra and conductor were supported by a promising young ensemble of singers.

Soloists:
Erika Sunnegardh (Soprano), Ricarda Merbeth (Soprano), Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Lioba Braun (Alto), Gerhild Romberger (Alto), Stephen Gould (Tenor), Dietrich Henschel (Baritone), Georg Zeppenfeld (Bass)

Choirs:
MDR Rundfunkchor, Chor der Oper Leipzig, GewandhausChor, Thomanerchor Leipzig, GewandhausKinderchor