Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Bruckner’s Seventh and Mozart

Mozart

Both Bruckner and Mozart are often associated with the divine. Many consider Mozart’s music a gift from the gods, and the profoundly religious Bruckner dedicated his symphonies to heaven. Add to that the timeless grandeur of Myung-whun Chung – guest conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra for forty years! – and the undisputed virtuosity of pianist Emanuel Ax: the Concertgebouw Orchestra could hardly bring listeners closer to paradise.

Bruckner

Bruckner’s symphonies always have an unmistakably spiritual connotation. The Seventh especially sounds like a state of religious rapture. The music reveals a grandiose play of light and darkness, from stately ecstasy to devilish outbursts. Here, Bruckner shows that he doesn’t always express himself in massive blocks of sound but can also compose with chamber-music-like clarity. This work had a special place in the composer’s heart because it finally brought him widespread recognition after years of being slammed by the critics.