‘Imagine that the universe is beginning to sound and resonate’, Gustav Mahler once said about his Eighth Symphony. This extraordinary work is often called the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’, because Mahler’s vision called for such a huge ensemble: two mixed choirs, a boys’ choir, eight soloists, a massive orchestra, an organ, and an additional brass section. ‘Veni, creator, spiritus!’ It is with this Pentecost hymn invoking the Holy Spirit that the symphony’s first movement begins. For the second movement, Mahler draws upon the final scene of Goethe’s Faust II: ‘The noble part of the spirit has been saved from evil’. Angels and other celestial ‘flight attendants’ lift Faust’s soul—rescued from the clutches of the devil—up to the realm of the ‘Eternal Feminine’. Faust, an early pioneer of grand visions and soaring ideas, fits perfectly into the industrial architecture of Tempelhof. It is here that Mahler’s Eighth Symphony will truly ‘sound and resonate’ as never before, especially with Music Director James Gaffigan himself in the cockpit, guiding our flight through Mahler’s universe.

The thou­sand at Tem­pel­hof

Tempelhof Airport

With stunning natural imagery and attention to every detail, Barrie Kosky presents Tchaikovsky’s soulful drama about the hopes, longings, and failures of four young people who come to realize in the end that happiness was almost within reach.

Rachael Wilson

Events

Upcoming events

Jan 16 - Feb 1, 2026

Eugene Onegin · Komische Oper Berlin

Past events

25 - 26 Sep, 2025

The thousand at Tempelhof · Komische Oper Berlin

Future and recently performed repertoire

Olga in Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky

Komische Oper Berlin

Mary of Egypt in Symphony No. 8 by Mahler

Komische Oper Berlin

About

Rachael Wilson hasn't added a bio

Ra­chael Wil­son

Events

Upcoming events

Jan 16 - Feb 1, 2026

Eugene Onegin · Komische Oper Berlin

Past events

25 - 26 Sep, 2025

The thou­sand at Tem­pel­hof · Komische Oper Berlin

Future and recently performed repertoire

Olga in Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky

Komische Oper Berlin

Mary of Egypt in Symphony No. 8 by Mahler

Komische Oper Berlin

About

Ra­chael Wil­son hasn't added a bio

Rachael Wilson

The thousand at Tempelhof · Komische Oper Berlin

Rachael Wilson hasn't added a bio