Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner was born on September 4, 1824, in Ansfelden near Linz, the son of a rural village schoolmaster. Serving as an organist and choirboy at the Augustinian monastery of Saint Florian, Bruckner developed a lifelong religious devotion and an unmatched command of organ counterpoint.

Moving to Vienna in 1868 as professor at the Vienna Conservatory, Bruckner composed nine colossal symphonies whose expansive architecture, soaring brass chorales, and spiritual grandeur rivaled the monumentalism of Richard Wagner. Despite fierce attacks from conservative Viennese music critics allied with Brahms, his Fourth (Romantic), Seventh, and Eighth Symphonies achieved triumphant worldwide acclaim. He is buried beneath the great organ at Saint Florian.