A monumental overture for the New Year

‘This symphony is the creation of a giant and in spiritual range, wealth of ideas and magnificence it surpasses all of the master’s other symphonies’ (Hugo Wolf). Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 in C minor was the very first symphony on such a vast scale. Although it is now considered one of his masterpieces, the first version was initially seen as a failure, even by his friends. These negative reactions cast the composer into yet another deep depression. In this gigantic work, Bruckner opens up new worlds, with great complexity and profundity of thought, which led to its being called ‘the Apocalyptic’. Bruckner himself preferred to say, ‘My Eighth is a mystery.’ Hartmut Haenchen returns once again to conduct the La Monnaie Orchestra in Bruckner’s second version of this ‘mystery’ for our New Year concert, continuing his complete cycle of Bruckner symphonies.

PROGRAMME

• Anton Bruckner Sinfonie Nr.8 c-moll, WAB 108 (1890)