Frankfurter Opern- Und Museumsorchester by Brahms, Bruckner, Mo. 22 Jan. 2024, Ab (2024/2024), Dirigat Marek Janowski, Alte Oper, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland

Introduction to the concert “in front of the museum” with Andreas Bomba at 10 a.m. in the Great Hall “Brahms contra Bruckner” or “Brahms-Bruckner controversy” – organizers of symposia or concerts use titles like these to attract the attention of the public, even in the 21st century. The party dispute that took place in Vienna in the 19th century is still having an impact. Johannes Brahms was conservative, Anton Bruckner progressive and “new sounding”. There are said to have been applause from supporters of the two antipodes, and both composers have - demonstrably - said nothing friendly about each other. Despite all the differences in style, their music has long been part of the canon of the 19th century. The violin concerto has been called “a symphonic colossus”, a “concert against the violin” because the solo instrument has to assert itself against a large symphonic orchestra. There is no doubt that she succeeds, otherwise the concerto would not be among the most popular in all of literature. Bruckner leads into a new symphonic world with his third symphony. It is a reaction to his encounter with the music of Richard Wagner and is also dedicated to him. Despite this spirited departure, it was not written in one go, but was revised and shortened several times by the composer. The simultaneity of humor and cheerfulness, of sadness and pain can be experienced here, of dance floor and chorale - this is how Bruckner is quoted for his third.