This spring the Münchner Philharmoniker make live recordings at St. Florian of Bruckner’s Symphonies nos. 2, 8 and 9 available to audiences around the world. In writing his Eighth Symphony, Bruckner hoped to surpass all that he had previously achieved in the field of symphony and to do so, moreover not only in terms of the dimensions of the individual movements, but also in the intensity of his expression – he was all the more disappointed, then, when his contemporaries initially rejected the work. He revised the symphony and it was in this reworked version that it enjoyed a triumphant premiere in 1892, proving that the world of music was finally ready to confront the strenuous demands placed upon it by such a large-scale symphony.

The Münchner Philharmoniker have arguably given more performances of Anton Bruckner’s music than any other orchestra. A great number of Bruckner recordings led by the many legendary conductors that have worked for and with the Münchner Philharmoniker are stored in the historical archive of the MPHIL Label including magnificent pieces with Sergiu Celibidache, Christian Thielemann, Rudolf Kempe, Günter Wand and Oswald Kabasta.

Having started in September 2017 at the Monastery of St. Florian, a setting with unique historical significance in this context, the Münchner Philharmoniker and Valery Gergiev present a most spectacular cycle of Anton Bruckner’s symphonies. All performances take place at the Monastery of St. Florian near Linz, a venue inextricably linked to the composer and his final resting place. The cycle was continued in September 2018 and will be completed in September 2019. All symphony recordings will be made available on the orchestra’s very own label MPHIL by 2020/2021.

Valery Gergiev on the experience of making these recordings: “The Münchner Philharmoniker are incredible, talented players. They combine this technical ability with a deep group experience in the music of Bruckner. I treasure and am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with these musicians and want people around the world to hear the music we make together.”

Valery Gergiev has paid the Austro-German repertoire particular attention throughout his career, which ignited a lasting fascination for Anton Bruckner. Over recent decades he has continued to explore the Austro-German repertoire, garnering adulation, especially for his interpretations of Wagner, Strauss, Mahler and Bruckner – music that is at the very heart of the Münchner Philharmoniker’s repertoire.

This orchestra’s 125th anniversary season continues to intensify the stimulating artistic relationship Valery Gergiev has with the orchestra. This success is repeatedly confirmed and reinforced by the audience, international and German press.