For the final concert of Leeds International Orchestral Season 2015/16, 111 musicians from the Orchestra of Opera North along with 350 singers and eight soloists perform one of the largest classical choral works ever written, Mahler’s Symphony No 8 (Symphony of a Thousand) on Saturday 4 June, the first time on the Leeds Town Hall stage in over 30 years!
Subtitled Symphony of a Thousand due to the vast numbers of performers required, this evening’s performance will feature the joint forces of Leeds Festival Chorus, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus and Bradford Catholic Youth Choir, along with the Orchestra of Opera North and no less than eight soloists including Lee Bisset pictured above! This gigantic symphony was last performed in Leeds over thirty years ago, on 15th June 1985, by over 500 musicians. It was billed as the biggest-ever concert to be staged in Leeds Town Hall and sold out within just 24 hours of booking opening! This is a rare opportunity to hear this immense work, described by Mahler as his “gift to the nation…a great joy-bringer”.
Renowned for his fine musicianship, tonight’s conductor David Hill is widely respected as both a choral and orchestral conductor. His talent has been recognised by his appointments as Chief Conductor of The BBC Singers, Music Director of Leeds Philharmonic Society and many more. As an organist, David has given recitals in most of the major venues in the UK and has toured extensively abroad and his broad-ranging discography of over 70 recordings spans repertoire from the renaissance to the present day.
Tickets for this concert are priced £18 – £45 and are available from the Box Office on 0113 376 0318 Don’t forget that 50% discounts are available for students, under 18s and jobseekers. Plus, if you’re under 26 you can purchase tickets for an orchestral concert for just £5 in the seven days before the concert.