Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony conducted by Christian Thielemann
On June 21, Christian Thielemann leads the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Bruckner’s mighty Eighth Symphony. You don’t want to miss it - get your tickets today!
Experience Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony performed by the Concertgebouw Orchestra
Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony is a mighty fortress and a thrilling ride from darkness into light. The world of the Eighth is, by turns, complex, gracious, peaceful and turbulent – Bruckner invites you in, takes you along and never lets you go. “Bruckner’s strength lies in his slow development, not in the rapid tempo,” said conductor Christian Thielemann. “It’s the same as the infinite horizon you experience at sea when there are very few waves: the power is immense.”
Christian Thielemann first conducted the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1997 and subsequently made two successful return appearances. He was scheduled to come back after an absence of almost eighteen years in June 2020 to lead Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony. That performance was cancelled, however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But now, the German conductor will be back to lead the Eighth Symphony as part of the orchestra’s Bruckner cycle. Thielemann said: “There are only a handful of orchestras who grasp this composer, and they are primarily European orchestras, like the Concertgebouw, who understand this musical language, this expansiveness.” They are looking forward to this renewed collaboration. Get your tickets today and experience it for yourself!
Christian Thielemann conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra
The German conductor Christian Thielemann launched his successful career in 1988 as music director of the Nuremberg Staatstheater. In 1997, he returned to his native Berlin where he led the Deutsche Oper until 2004. He was then appointed principal conductor of the Munich Philharmonic until 2011.
Thielemann maintains close ties with both the Berlin and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, having lead the latter in its well-known New Year’s concert in 2019. The conductor has received many awards for his musical accomplishments, including the 2015 Richard-Wagner-Preis from the Richard-Wagner-Verband Leipzig.
Thielemann conducted the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra several times between 1997 and 2002. In 2020, his long-awaited return to Amsterdam had to be cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, but in June 2024 he will conduct Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony, and teach young talented conductors in the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s Ammodo Masterclass.
For more information about Christian Thielemann, please visit the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra website.
Concert programme
Here is what to expect from the concert programme:
- Anton Bruckner - Symphony No. 8
Performers
The following will perform in the concert:
- Christian Thielemann - Conductor
- Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra was founded in 1888. Its distinctive sound has made it one of the world’s leading orchestras.
The orchestra is famous for its renditions of works by Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss and Anton Bruckner, and for its long-standing concert traditions such as the St Matthew Passion in the week before Easter and the Christmas Matinee. It has always worked closely with contemporary composers. World-famous guest conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Iván Fischer, Antonio Pappano, Myung-whun Chung and Joanna Mallwitz will be coming to Amsterdam to lead the orchestra next season.
The Concertgebouw Orchestra has had just seven chief conductors to date. The eighth was announced on 10 June 2022: Klaus Mäkelä joined as artistic partner in the 2022-23 season and will become chief conductor in 2027. The coming season sees five extraordinary programmes with Klaus Mäkelä at the helm.
Buy your tickets now!
A free glass of wine and use of the staffed cloakroom are included in the price of admission. Get your tickets on the Concertgebouw Orchestra website.