Throughout his life, Bruckner was devoted to the music of Wagner; at the time of Wagner’s death, he was working on his Seventh Symphony, which became his elegy to his musical hero. The symphony opens with a broad and serene melody on the cellos, described by Julian Johnson as a “complete, divinely given melodic whole”, which is conjured out of a near-silent string tremolando. The lyrical and heart-rending second movement is permeated with the essence of the Catholic liturgy, with the orchestra intimating the timbre of a church organ and choir. The movement also introduces a quartet of Wagner tubas, which reappears in the final movement as part of a blazing fanfare.
More concerts with Kurt Masur:
Masur conducts in London
Apr 11 2013, 19:30 - Royal Festival Hall
Kurt Masur conducts Bruckner’s towering Symphony No. 3 and is joined by soloist David Fray in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2
Kurt Masur
Find out more about conductor Kurt Masur and his work with the Orchestra








