The Vienna Philharmonic initially rejected Bruckner's Second Symphony as 'unplayable' and 'nonsensical' after a trial run-through in 1872.
Composition History
Richard Wagner, whom Bruckner revered as the 'master of all masters', first became interested in the subject of his comic opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in 1845.
Compositional Technique
Bruckner's Second Symphony was mockingly known as the 'Symphony of Pauses' due to its numerous full orchestra rests at linking passages.
Composition History
Bruckner composed his Second Symphony between October 1871 and September 1872, after moving to Vienna to teach at the Conservatory.
Notable Performances
The Prelude to Act One of Wagner's Die Meistersinger was first publicly performed by the composer himself with the Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig on November 1, 1862.
Composition History
Bruckner's Eighth Symphony took three years to compose, from 1884 to 1887, partly due to his failing physical strength and the pressure for another success after his Seventh Symphony.
Performer Biography
Andris Nelsons, the Gewandhauskapellmeister, considers Bruckner's Second Symphony an ideal entry point for exploring Bruckner's symphonies.
