Herbert Blomstedt on Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3 (18 min.)

For many years, Herbert Blomstedt’s performances of Bruckner have been among the highlights in the Berliner Philharmoniker’s concert calendar. In December 2017, six months after his 90th birthday, the Swedish conductor performed the composer’s Third Symphony with the orchestra. The programme also included Mozart’s A major Piano Concerto with the pianist Maria João Pires. In this introduction, Blomstedt explains why he prefers the first version of the symphony, how disappointed the composer was by the premiere of his work, how much he loved the sound of the violas, and how the four movements are linked by a sophisticated use of revisiting and transforming themes.