David Geffen Hall-Lincoln Center/ Thursday June 4th, 2026: Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) “Symphony No.8” (1887, rev 1889-90, ed. Nowak, 1955).
Welcome back friends!
Yay!
Welcome this week, once again, to the rich, vibrant, and inspiring, emotional world of classical music, performed by the New York Philharmonic.
Yay!
And last night, this terrific concert, was beautifully conducted, with great quiet authority and charisma, by the wonderfully present, Russian conductor, and current Chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic (since 2018), the great, Semyon Bychkov.
Yay!
So welcome to an iconic, majestic, and incredible symphony by distinguished Austrian composer, organist, and admirer of Wagnerian aesthetics, the truly gifted, and eccentric, Anton Bruckner (1824-1892).
Why eccentric?
Because for this 8th symphony, Bruckner wrote an unusually long piece (84 minutes).
Wow.
It also features an extraordinary number of instruments on stage, including a huge string section, as well as 3 harps, 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 bassoons, 8 horns (2 doubling tenor Wagner tubas, 2 doubling bass Wagner tubas), 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 1 timpani and one of my favorites, the one and only, simple and cheeky, triangle.
Yay!
Despite or perhaps because of this great number of instruments, Bruckner then dives in immediately, to display his incredible command of symphony writing, and I was especially moved by how the violins and violas almost “sang” harmoniously together, while showing off their own personality.
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And the presence of the 8 horns were simply awesome, and were displayed in truly both subtle, and at times, more imperial ways.
Yay!
As were the trombones, who just give so much spirit and levity, to any classical work.
Yay!
But what truly surprised me was the way the flute sometimes was able to cut through all of the rest of the orchestra to manifest its presence, in ways at times, as wild and sophisticated as a swan can, when it chooses to, when landing in water.
Yay!
So, to sum up my feelings, about Bruckner’s “Symphony No.8” concert, admired last night, in great company: what wonderfully exciting, original, majestic and highly creative, classical work, by a highly eccentric and timeless composer, perfectly performed with great soul by the NY Philharmonic, and a terrific way to end this 25-26 season.
Yay!
Bravo!
Just awesome.
Until next time friends.
Soft…
Fluttering…
Sunny…
Joyful…
Happy…
Loving…
Eternal butterflies…