OÖ Stiftskonzerte: Markus Poschner - Bruckner Orchestra Linz

"The storm of enthusiasm broke out with elemental force," reported Hugo Wolf after the premiere of the 8th Symphony, which took place on 18 December 1892 at the Vienna Musikverein. Hans Richter conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and it seemed as if Anton Bruckner was on a creative roll: His 7th Symphony had been enthusiastically received at every new venue since its premiere in Leipzig in 1884 and, after all, his  "Eighth" was premiered by the orchestra that had still ridiculed him at an audition for his 3rd Symphony.

However, it didn't seem to come quite so easily to him after all. The  "Eighth" was actually finished in 1887 and Bruckner - unlike with his previous works - was even satisfied with the result. "May it find favour," he noted in his diary. But his contemporaries were once again overwhelmed and had a completely different opinion. Hermann Levi, conductor and confidant of Bruckner, had doubts and found no access: the instrumentation did not suit him and overall it was too similar to the 7th Symphony. Bruckner sat down at his desk again and thoroughly reworked it.

And this revision paid off! Not only was Hugo Wolf delighted, but the entire audience in the Great Hall of the Vienna Musikverein went wild with enthusiasm. After each movement, Bruckner had to come on stage to receive three huge laurel wreaths. These storms of enthusiasm continue to this day and it will be interesting to see how Markus Poschner and "his" Bruckner Orchestra Linz will illuminate the work with their very own interpretation.