Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Abo A
Bamberg, Konzerthalle, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal
20:00 Uhr

»I raise my glass to the greatest symphonist since Beethoven’s passing!« These were the enthusiastic words spoken by conductor Hermann Levi at a reception following one of the first performances of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony. Deeply moving words for the composer, for whom concerts featuring Beethoven’s works had been pivotal moments during his youth. But right at the start of his career, like many others, Bruckner regarded Beethoven’s symphonies as an almost insurmountable yardstick. He was constantly troubled by doubts, only really finding his feet in the genre in his forties – and then had to cope with numerous scathing reviews, being misunderstood and ridiculed. Nevertheless, he carried on and once said of his drive: »I just keep catching myself doing it!« And fortunately, the long-awaited sense of achievement with his Seventh led to an enormous boost in motivation – because shortly afterwards, in the summer of 1884, he began work on his Eighth. Bruckner must certainly have been delighted once again by the reactions following the first performance of this monumental work, for it was said: »This symphony is the creation of a giant and, by its intellectual dimension, its richness and its grandeur, surpasses all the master’s other symphonies. It was a complete victory of light over darkness, and the storm of excitement broke out like an elemental force.« At our venue, the work will be presented by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra during its now traditional guest performance in our concert hall – conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, for whom Bruckner has long held a prominent place in his career.

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Orchestra

Anton Bruckner Symphonie Nr. 8 c-Moll