Which performers are required for Mahler’s Eighth Symphony?

Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, often referred to as the "Symphony of a Thousand," requires a massive ensemble of performers to execute its complex, integrated choral and orchestral score.12

The vocal requirements for the work include:
* Eight vocal soloists12
* Two large choirs of mixed voices32
* A children’s (boys’) choir13

These vocal forces are supported by a large orchestra that includes an organ, four harps, celesta, piano, harmonium, mandolin, and an offstage brass ensemble. Unlike many other symphonies that reserve choral elements for a finale, Mahler integrates these vocal forces throughout the entire work, utilizing them for powerful antiphonal effects alongside the instrumentalists.132