With this 7th symphony concert conducted by Zubin Mehta featuring the baritone Thomas Quasthoff, the Staatskapelle Dresden initiated its Mahler celebrations due the composer's 150th birthday in 2010. Mehta has been one of the outstanding personalities of the international music scene for years. Already at the age of 25 he conducted the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic as well as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 1994 he has been closely associated with the Staatskapelle Dresden. Thomas Quasthoff is one of the most important and versatile singer of our time. Three of his CD recordings have been awarded with the Grammy. No other artist has achieved this enormous success. In addition of Mahler's Kindertotenlieder the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden also performed "Six pieces for orchestra, op. 6" by Anton Webern. A vibrating pedal point with ascending trumpet fanfares describe the beginning of "Also sprach Zarathustra" op. 30 composed by Richard Strauss, which was the conclusion of the concert. This live recording was produced by Arthaus Musik in cooperation with MDR.