Symphony of a Thousand

A monumental work by Mahler performed by thousands of instrumentalists and singers. In this case, the word "thousands" is no poetic exaggeration:  in 1910, at its premiere, 1030 musicians took to the stage, and on 7 July 2023, we will try to live up to the task... 

The Hungarian State Opera orchestra and choir, eight soloists with a thousand ties to Veszprém will form the basis of the performing team. They will be joined by members of local adult and youth choirs and by choirs of Veszprém’s and ECoC sister cities. All this will go, in part, to prove that Veszprém does deserve the title of UNESCO City of Music, but also to feel that the city is, for that one hour and a half the European Capital of Music.

Mahler, the artistic director and chief conductor of the Royal Hungarian Opera from 1888 to 1891, wrote of this work to his Dutch conductor friend. „Imagine that the universe began to sing and play music. These are not human voices, but suns and celestial bodies revolving around each other."