Fischer, Altstaedt & Budapest Festival Orchestra

The soloist is Nicolas Altstaedt. Founded over 40 years ago by Iván Fischer, the Budapest Festival Orchestra has quickly gained worldwide fame and is now regularly counted among the ten best orchestras in the world. After 25 years, the ensemble can finally be experienced again at the Brucknerhaus. Making his debut in Linz is Nicolas Altstaedt, one of the most sought-after cellists in the world today, who brings with him Camille Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, one of the most prominent works in the repertoire, which earned the composer the "rare fame" of being considered a classic "even during his lifetime," as the writer Romain Rolland put it. This is a recognition that Anton Bruckner had to struggle for a long time before he finally found the long-awaited acknowledgment with his Symphony No. 7 in E major at the age of 60. For instance, the press reported after the Munich premiere on March 10, 1885, that the audience, "not in the least informed about the existence of a composer named Bruckner until recently, had prepared for the announced symphony as if it were the first work of a budding talent; and [...] when a stormy, enthusiastic applause escalated into an ovation and repeatedly called for the composer, the greater part of the audience must have been highly astonished to see not a youthful, lively artist, but a simple, older man on the podium [...]."

Program
Camille Saint-Saëns // 1835-1921
Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 // 1872
// Intermission //
Anton Bruckner // 1824-1896
Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107 // 1881-83

Cast
Nicolas Altstaedt | Cello
Budapest Festival Orchestra
Iván Fischer | Conductor

Linz Sound Menu around the Concert
Prelude
18:45, Middle Hall
Short musical introduction with young musicians followed by a concert introduction with free admission

Concert
19:30, Great Hall

Post-concert
After the concert, Foyer Great Hall
Musical commentary and spontaneous conversations for lingering and reflecting.