Leipzig-based music label ACCENTUS Music are due to release a DVD and Blu-ray disc of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “The Resurrection” and Symphony No. 8, performed with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under Musical Director Riccardo Chailly. Both orchestra and maestro have already achieved legendary status, having received a number of awards and accolades for their previous collaborative performances.

The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra performed both symphonies at the 2011 International Mahler Festival in Leipzig, which this year was held in celebration of the centenary of Mahler’s death in 1911. Mahler regarded his eighth symphony as his opus summum, and it is often referred to as the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’. Of the final movement of the Symphony No. 2, the composer himself said: “The increasing tension, working up to the final climax, is so tremendous that I don’t know myself, now that it is over, how I ever came to write it.”

Acclaimed Leipzig-born artist Neo Rauch was inspired to paint “Chor” after attending a rehearsal for Mahler No. 8, and he has allowed ACCENTUS to feature this painting on the front of the DVD and Blu-ray release. In addition, the painting “Morgenrot” was chosen by Neo to feature on the cover of the release of Symphony No. 2.

Both discs will be released in the UK at the beginning of October and in Germany in mid-September.

"Chor"

"Morgenrot"