A Universe of Sound: Recording Mahler's Symphony No. 8

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony's latest CD release, Mahler's Symphony No. 8, won three Grammy Awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Classical Album. Watch production footage and hear insights about the challenges of putting this large scale work to disc. Order your CD at www.shopsfsymphony.org or download from iTunes. On SFS Media

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Entertainment

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• mahler symphony no. 8
• san francisco symphony
• michael tilson thomas
• sfsmedia

[sfsymphony]

Yes, recorded live in Davies Symphony Hall over four concerts, using the mighty Ruffati Organ, the largest concert hall rgan in north america. Quite an experience.

[Zakster44]

Was the concert footage part of the whole symphony? If so, are there any plans to release it on DVD?

[sfsymphony]

hello Zakster44,

There are no plans to release Mahler 8 on DVD, we only shot this Promo video, not the entire concert. Glad you enjoyed it and hope you like the recording.

[2Dawgz]

It was at a Mahler 8 performance by the SF Symphony on June 25, 1998 when I met the man who was later to become my husband. Naturally, the Mahler 8 is "our song."

We had the enormous privilege of hearing the Mahler on April 30 of this year, conducted by Pierre Boulez in Vienna's Musikverein. It was a life changing experience.

[Bbobe900000]

Holy crap! Look at the timpanist at 6:42. !!!!!!!!!! There are like 2 feet between the drum and the top of the stroke!!!

[AltoNicoRuso]

@metafixi when this piece was premiered, there was well over 1,000 musicians on the stage. :|

[metafixi]

Ha! They should try Berlioz's Ta Deum or Requiem. Now THAT requires a huge orchestra.

[fledgehog]

its a shame there are no plans to release a dvd of this!! i love watching MTT conduct. i have the audio recording and it is fantastic!

[grimmrad]

Love it when at 4:55 the soprano almost gets into tears. What a piece!

[karzats]

@sfsymphony Is this the performance in the new Vinyl release of the Mahler Symphonys?

[nevertheless123]

@TheStockwell you got me excited. 80 minutes of music with about 20 (?) different instruments playing together to produce intricate textures of sound while also producing so much emotion, and ALL WRITTEN ON A PIECE OF PAPER within eight weeks by a short man sitting in a hut. I am speechless in this age of "Katie Perry" who doesnt know how to sing but making millions. Should make us feel good that we understand how REAL music is(was) made. It makes me feel good. LONG LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC!!!

[TheStockwell]

@nevertheless123 Yeah - I hate pointing things out. Thanks for not getting mad, by the way. I'm not trying to look smart or cool. Usually, people who point out tiny facts wind up sounding like "fact trolls." But this music - wow! If you hear it live, then try to listen to CDs or MP3 files, you'll just plain give up. What gets me is that Mahler wrote this 80-minute masterpiece in EIGHT WEEKS! One man, sitting in a hut, with a pile of paper, pen and ink, a piano, and a lakeside view. Holy Smokes!

[nevertheless123]

@TheStockwell hahaha yeah I know you textbook types who have to get to the gory details:) But I think you get my point but are just poking some fun.

the point is that no technology was actually used to write this amazing music and also the greatest music written for about 250 years. Oh well I know you know but good to know about the exact dates of gramophone etc.,. (also for correcting my spelling!)

[TheStockwell]

@nevertheless123 Okay, here I am getting all picky and annoying: recorded sound goes back, more or less, to Edison's machines in 1877. By the late 1890s, recording was widespread. By 1901, years before Mahler compose the Eighth, flat disc gramophone recordings were available commercially.