September 12

Events - Culture & Arts

1910day.year

Premiere performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in Munich (with a chorus of 852 singers and an orchestra of 171 players. Mahler's rehearsal assistant conductor was Bruno Walter).

Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 premiered in Munich in 1910 with a massive ensemble of singers and musicians, marking a landmark in choral-orchestral repertoire.
Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, known as the 'Symphony of a Thousand,' premiered on September 12, 1910, in Munich. The performance featured 852 singers and an orchestra of 171 musicians under Mahler’s direction, assisted by Bruno Walter. The work combined a Latin hymn from the Veni Creator Spiritus with a choral setting of Goethe’s Faust. Its massive scale and emotional depth challenged conventional symphonic norms. The premiere was a critical success and cemented the symphony’s place as a monumental work in classical music.
1910 Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 8 conductor Bruno Walter
1959day.year

Bonanza, the first regularly scheduled TV program presented in color, is launched in the United States.

Bonanza became the first regularly scheduled color television series in the United States, transforming home entertainment. Its vivid cinematography encouraged audiences to upgrade to color TVs.
On September 12, 1959, NBC premiered Bonanza, making it the first American television series broadcast in full color on a regular schedule. The Western drama, set on the expansive Ponderosa Ranch, followed the adventures of the Cartwright family and captivated viewers with its lush visuals. At a time when most households still owned black-and-white sets, Bonanza’s vibrant presentation spurred many to invest in new color television technology. The show’s popularity helped NBC establish a competitive edge in color programming and accelerated the industry-wide shift toward color broadcasts. Running for 14 seasons, Bonanza became one of television’s longest-lasting and most beloved Westerns. Its groundbreaking use of color fundamentally changed the audience’s viewing experience and set a new standard for broadcast storytelling.
Bonanza color