Free Screening at Stadtkino – June 30, 2026, 8:00 p.m. (CEST)
Stadtkino at the Künstlerhaus, Akademiestraße 13, 1010 Vienna
Free admission; numbered tickets available at the box office
Narrated by Alec Baldwin, "Cosmic Portal" offers a compelling exploration of Gustav Mahler's Eighth Symphony — a monumental work of sound and intellectual power, an outburst of creative passion that defies categorization. Experts, dancers, actors, animations, and a performance conducted by Neeme Järvi come together to shed light on Mahler's visionary testament to the power of art to unite heaven and earth.
The film offers a deep insight into one of the most ambitious works of classical music: Gustav Mahler's Eighth Symphony. "Cosmic Portal" was filmed in Austria, Germany, Estonia, and the United States and traces the musical, philosophical, and biographical roots of Mahler's 'Symphony of a Thousand,' a work that required a thousand musicians for its premiere. Mahler once said that this symphony makes "all my others seem like preliminary attempts" and invites his audience to "imagine that the universe begins to sound and vibrate — no longer with human voices, but with orbiting planets and suns."
The film weaves together dramatizations, dance, animation, and commentary from world-renowned Mahler experts. At its heart is a specially filmed performance conducted by Neeme Järvi, which brings Mahler's cosmic vision to life. Part 1 evokes the primordial creative energy of the universe; Part 2 sets the final scene of Goethe's Faust to music and reveals a mystical journey of transformation. American director Jason Starr will be in attendance that evening. He has directed documentaries on Gustav Mahler's life and work, among other projects, and is known for his in-depth and interdisciplinary approaches that place Mahler's music within its historical and cultural context. [text by organizer]