Open Rehearsal: Maazel Conducts Bruckner's Eighth, Friday June 20th

The New York Philharmonic will have Lorin Maazel dressed up early on Friday June 20th 2008, for a 9:45 AM open rehearsal:"for a behind-the-scenes look at the creative interplay between orchestra and conductor. Bruckner's eighth symphony is what you'll be hearing. The premiere of the piece was to be conducted by Felix Weingartner, Kapellmeister of Mannheim, and was twice scheduled to occur during 1891, but each time Weingartner substituted another work at the last minute. The young conductor eventually admitted that the reason that he was unable to perform the symphony was because the work was too difficult and he did not have enough rehearsal time: in particular the Wagner tuba players in his orchestra did not have enough experience to cope with their parts.

Side note: Bruno Walter wrote that Mahler often called Bruckner his forerunner, and continues at length in his article to thrash out the features which unite and separate them.

Tickets are $16 and are available at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office or online. (More details)

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