On Sunday 23 October we performed the first Mahler concert in our Journeys of Discovery 2022-23 London Season at the Royal Albert Hall as Music Director Vasily Petrenko conducted Symphony No.8, 'Symphony of a Thousand' to rapturous applause.
Mahler's music called to the power of redemptive love in the symphony which takes its text from the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus and the story of Faust. Five choirs, eight soloists and the Orchestra combined with nearly 600 people on stage for this rare performance of the mammoth 1906 work.
Read on the see the exclusive photos, reviews and reactions from the afternoon.
All photos (c) Andy Paradise
"Just keeping so many musicians co-ordinated is a superhuman task, which conductor Vasily Petrenko managed superbly well. But more than that, he balanced these huge forces so we could hear the fine detail under all the tumult."
The Telegraph ★★★★★
Soloists (L-R) Sarah Wegener, Jacquelyn Wagner, Jennifer Johnston, Claudia Huckle, Vincent Wolfsteiner, Benedict Nelson and James Platt.
"...a glorious experience that nobody is going to forget in a hurry."
The i ★★★★
"Petrenko, however, didn’t overdo the grandeur; there was no sense of wallowing in the sheer weight of sound for its own sake. Tempi were always brisk, textures agile and crisp (almost spikily expressionist in some episodes of the first part), every detail carefully defined."
The Guardian ★★★★
"Several of its best moments are big and visceral: take the thundering organ and vast walls of choral sound in the Veni, Creator Spiritus or the brass blazing from up high, behind the choir. That’s music you need to feel in your bones. Petrenko let those sonic spectacular passages soar, driving Part I forward and brilliantly landing Part II’s transcendent, redemptive conclusion 90 minutes later."
The Times ★★★★
"For anyone mourning the loss of large-scale, mind-shattering events in the past two years, this was redemption."
The Observer ★★★★
The RPO was joined by five choirs: the City of London Choir, Philharmonia Chorus and Bournemouth Symphony Chorus in addition to two boys choirs, the Schola Cantorum of The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and Tiffin Boys' Choir.
"The RPO’s playing sounded wonderfully precise as they joined Petrenko on the musical rollercoaster ride."
Seen and Heard International
Soprano Regula Mühlemann sung the part of the Mater Gloriosa.
"Mahler’s glorious opening statement generated intense drama, though not without moments of relief from its surging crescendos where Hostem repellas was especially visceral in its impact. Indeed, contrasts between massive choral and orchestral textures and almost chamber-like delicacy were impressively realised..."
Bachtrack ★★★★
What. A. Night. Getting goosebumps just looking at these pictures ✨✨✨ https://t.co/VjeodJGjHM
— Emma Louise Jones (@emmalouisesop) October 24, 2022
A standing ovation from 5,000 people at @RoyalAlbertHall for Mahler 8 with @rpoonline + @VasilyPetrenko. Always love singing with @CityLondonChoir but today was very special. The ending nearly finished me off. Bravo to the soloists and the other five choirs. Extraordinary stuff. pic.twitter.com/YmqTWn7w8K
— Celia Clark (@Celiamama) October 23, 2022
An absolute treat to be in the audience for #Mahler 8 at @RoyalAlbertHall today. An overwhelming performance. Congrats to every musician involved (esp choirs!). A life-affirming event ❤️ Worth the 2-year wait!@Philchorus @BS_Chorus @CityLondonChoir @rpoonline @tiffinchoirs pic.twitter.com/uVhEP6prVT
— Royal Choral Society (@royalchoral) October 23, 2022
Incredible Mahler 8 from @rpoonline today! pic.twitter.com/m5pS7qIX5w
— Richard Gowers (@RichardGowers) October 23, 2022
Exposed texture, high line, a little arietta of vulnerability and redemption – a real tightrope for the singer, 70 minutes in. And Jacquelyn Wagner absolutely nailed it. Floated, secure, radiating human warmth and assurance. ?/4
— Peter Quantrill (@PeterQuantrill) October 23, 2022
Find out more about our Journeys of Discovery series with Vasily Petrenko