"I have completed my Eighth. It is the greatest work I have ever created. The symphony is so unique in both form and content that words cannot capture it. Imagine the entire universe beginning to resound—not with human voices, but with planets and suns in motion."
— Gustav Mahler, August 15, 1906
Mahler 8 is an extraordinary and daring project — a performance of Symphony No. 8, composed by one of the greatest Austrian composers, Gustav Mahler. This is a unique work not only for its artistic quality but also for the sheer scale of its performance. At its premiere in 1910, it was performed by 1,029 musicians and singers. This is why Mahler's Eighth is often referred to as the Symphony of a Thousand.
TICKETS
- The concert will take place on May 17 and 18, 2026, at Trojhalí Karolina.
- Also known as the "Symphony of a Thousand", this monumental work will be performed by the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, the Moravian-Silesian Sinfonietta, the Májovák Karviná Symphonic Wind Orchestra, and 11 choirs from the Moravian-Silesian region, Brno, and Katowice.
- On stage: conductor Christian Arming and 8 leading soloists.
- Altogether, 600 performers will unite in one breathtaking and truly unique musical experience.
- Ticket prices range from 800 CZK to 2,500 CZK.
- A limited number of Golden VIP tickets is also available.
Moravskoslezská Sinfonietta, z.s. is the driving force behind this project — an orchestral academy that brings together pupils from music schools, conservatory students, and university musicians. Its mission is to inspire and train the next generation of orchestral players from all over the Czech Republic.
Since its founding, the Moravskoslezská Sinfonietta has helped more than 1,000 young musicians grow, perform, and take their first steps toward a professional music career.
Born on June 7, 1860, in Kaliště near Humpolec and passing away on May 18, 1911, in Vienna, Gustav Mahler remains one of the most celebrated composers in history. Over his lifetime, he created ten symphonies, each remarkable in its own way. His Eighth Symphony, however, stands apart — a towering masterpiece and one of the largest choral works in the classical repertoire, demanding an extraordinary number of musicians and singers to bring it to life.
The historic buildings of today's Trojhalí Karolina in Ostrava were completed in 1921 as power stations producing electricity for the surrounding industrial operations. The entire industrial complex, including Trojhalí, was built and initially owned by Vítkovické horní a hutní těžířstvo (Vítkovice Mining and Ironworks Company), founded by Austrian entrepreneurs and industrialists, the Gutmann brothers, and Austrian banker Anselm Solomon Rothschild. Today, Trojhalí Karolina — one of the gems of Ostrava's industrial heritage — serves the public as a venue for a wide variety of cultural and leisure activities.
The choice of Trojhalí Karolina for this concert is no coincidence. Mahler's Eighth Symphony was premiered in Munich's Neue Musik-Festhalle, a building whose era of construction and structural design bear a striking resemblance to Trojhalí itself.
"Visitors can look forward to something they've probably never experienced before. The energy flowing toward them could be compared to a tsunami of sound that will pin them to their seats. And the concert will also be a powerful visual experience — seeing 600 performers on one stage is extraordinary in itself."
— Jan Soukup, Artistic Director of M8
"At the Ostrava concerts, we will bring visitors closer to the atmosphere of the 1910 premiere, conducted by Gustav Mahler himself. It was the greatest triumph of his career — and at the same time, the last premiere of his work that he personally conducted."
— Petr Šnejdar, Director of Trojhalí Karolina
"Music is a bridge for me, and Mahler's Eighth builds a bridge from 1910 to the present day. I'm happy to help show that even 'grand' music can be intimate, vibrant, and accessible to a young audience."
— Terezie Kovalová, Ambassador of M8
