When Anton Bruckner premiered his Te Deum at the Vienna Musikverein in 1886, he later referred to it as the “pride of my life”. This rare display of self-assurance is striking, given that Bruckner was otherwise known for his artistic self-doubt and frequent revisions of his works. But in this case, he was certain – and the critics agreed: the Te Deum became one of his greatest successes, even surpassing many of his symphonies in terms of public acclaim.

The story of the Mass in F minor unfolded rather differently. Commissioned by the Imperial Court Chapel in Vienna (Wiener Hofmusikkappelle), it was composed nearly two decades before the Te Deum. Bruckner subjected the work to multiple revisions up until 1893 – a creative process typical of the composer. He conducted the premiere himself and even covered the considerable costs, after the Hofkappelle had initially dismissed the Mass as “unsingable”. Only gradually did the work establish itself in the repertoire.

The recordings on this album were made in 2024 and 2025, bringing together an outstanding line-up of acclaimed singers under the direction of a conductor of international standing.