Herbert Blomstedt Anton Bruckner

Herbert Blomstedt was already an acclaimed conductor when he was appointed Principal Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic in the autumn of 1962. More than 60 years after his first concerts with the orchestra, the Swedish-American maestro remains one of its most beloved guest conductors.

“I have done my duty on earth; I did what I could, and I would only wish for one more thing: to be granted the time to complete my Ninth Symphony.” Anton Bruckner (1824–1896) was never able to fulfill that wish, but he continued working on the symphony until the morning of the day he died.

Bruckner first gained fame as one of the greatest organ virtuosos of the 19th century and was in his forties when he began composing symphonies. His greatest model was Beethoven’s ninth symphony, and he also drew significant inspiration from the music of Franz Schubert and Richard Wagner.

Building on these influences, as well as his deep familiarity with organ music, Bruckner composed symphonies of unprecedented scale. Though his works often unsettled and perplexed audiences, he gained a devoted following, including Gustav Mahler.

Bruckner began work on Symphony No. 9 in 1887, shortly after completing his Eighth Symphony. In the following years, he spent much time revising earlier symphonies while his health declined. By the time of his death, he had completed three movements—yet they form a work that feels whole and complete in itself.