Already in Bruckner’s First Symphony the influence of ‘Richard Wagner, was making itself felt. In 1863 Bruckner heard Wagner’s
opera Tannhäuser in Linz, capturing its desolate yearning in his first
movement’s third theme. Two years later Bruckner met Wagner for the
first time at a performance of Tristan und Isolde in Munich; the opera’s
romantic soul seeped into Bruckner’s Adagio, as disarming a vision of
love as Wagner’s own Wesendonck Lieder. As he slipped into hopeless
adoration for the German poet Mathilde Wesendonck, Wagner wrote her
these songs, moments of heartfelt stillness in a whirlwind musical
career.Available till Friday 18 January
This concert is online until Friday 18 January.
Brahms Tragic Overture
Wagner (arr. Henze) Wesendonck Lieder
Bruckner Symphony No. 1 (1877 Linz edition)
Vladimir Jurowski conductor
Anna Larsson contralto
JTI Friday Series concert recorded 14 December 2012 at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall