Brucknerhaus Linz

The Brucknerhaus Linz is a remarkable music venue on the Danube in Linz, that honors the legacy of Anton Bruckner, and enriches the cultural life of Linz and Upper Austria. The Brucknerhaus combines a modern and functional architecture with a superb acoustics and a diverse and high-quality program of music and other events. The Brucknerhaus is not only a place for classical music lovers, but also a cultural hub that hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, such as the International Bruckner Festival Linz, the Ars Electronica, and the Linz Cloud of Sound. The Brucknerhaus is also closely associated with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, which is one of the leading orchestras in Austria and beyond. The Brucknerhaus is a musical landmark on the Danube, and a source of pride and inspiration for the city of Linz and its inhabitants.

History

The idea of building a concert hall dedicated to Anton Bruckner dates back to 1930, when the Upper Austrian Heimatverein (Homeland Association) organized a concert to raise funds for the project. The concert took place in the Kaufmännisches Vereinshaus (Commercial Association House) in Linz, and featured Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7, conducted by Siegmund von Hausegger.

However, the project was delayed by political and historical events, such as the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, and the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Adolf Hitler, who was born in Braunau am Inn, near Linz, had plans to transform Linz into a cultural capital of the Third Reich, and envisioned a concert hall on the Blumau, along with other facilities, such as a museum, a theater, and a library. However, none of these plans came to fruition, as the war devastated the city and the country.

After the war, the initiative to build a Bruckner concert hall was revived by the Brucknerbund (Bruckner Society), a concert promoter named Gerhard Schröder, and the Domkapellmeister (Cathedral Music Director) Josef Kronsteiner. They organized benefit concerts in 1949, 1950, and 1951, featuring renowned conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Wilhelm Furtwängler, and Karl Böhm. The concerts took place in the gym of the Diesterwegschule (Diesterweg School), and attracted large audiences and donations.

The decisive step for the construction of the Brucknerhaus was taken in 1960, when the Mayor of Linz, Ernst Koref, and the Governor of Upper Austria, Heinrich Gleißner, agreed on the location and the funding of the project. A design competition was held in 1962, and the winner was the Finnish architect Heikki Sirén, who proposed a modern and functional building on the banks of the Danube, near the city center. However, the project faced political opposition and controversy, especially from those who favored a sports hall over a music hall, or who criticized the foreign design and the high costs. The construction was delayed until 1969, when the ground-breaking ceremony finally took place.

Architecture

The Brucknerhaus was completed in 1974, according to the plans of Heikki Sirén and his wife Kaija Sirén, who also designed the furniture and the interior decoration. The building has a rectangular shape, with a flat roof and a glass facade that reflects the water and the sky. The main entrance is marked by a large canopy and a bronze sculpture of Anton Bruckner by Fritz Wotruba. The building covers an area of 12,000 square meters, and has a capacity of 1,800 seats.

The main feature of the Brucknerhaus is the Großer Saal (Great Hall), which has a fan-shaped layout and a wooden paneling that enhances the acoustics. The hall has a movable stage and a large organ, built by the Austrian firm Rieger Orgelbau, with 4,500 pipes and 65 registers. The hall can host symphonic concerts, operas, ballets, musicals, and other events. The Brucknerhaus also has a smaller hall, the Mittlerer Saal (Middle Hall), which can accommodate 468 people, and is suitable for chamber music, recitals, lectures, and conferences. The building also has a foyer, a restaurant, a bar, a shop, and several rehearsal and meeting rooms.

The Brucknerhaus was inaugurated on March 23, 1974, with a gala concert broadcasted live on Austrian television. The concert featured Herbert von Karajan and the Vienna Philharmonic, who performed Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8, as well as works by Mozart and Strauss. The concert was attended by prominent guests, such as the President of Austria, Rudolf Kirchschläger, and the Chancellor of Austria, Bruno Kreisky.

Programs

The Brucknerhaus is operated by the Linzer Veranstaltungsgesellschaft mbH (LIVA), a public company that manages several cultural institutions in Linz. The Brucknerhaus hosts about 500 events and 200,000 visitors per year, and offers a diverse and high-quality program of music, theater, dance, literature, and art.

One of the main events of the Brucknerhaus is the International Bruckner Festival Linz, which was established in 1974 as a tribute to the composer. The festival takes place every year in September and October, and features international musicians and ensembles, such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. The festival also includes performances of Bruckner’s symphonies, masses, motets, and chamber works, as well as works by other composers who influenced or were influenced by Bruckner.

The Brucknerhaus is also closely associated with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, which was founded in 1967 as the orchestra of the Landestheater Linz (State Theater Linz). The orchestra is composed of 110 musicians, and performs regularly at the Brucknerhaus, as well as at other venues in Austria and abroad. The orchestra has a wide repertoire, ranging from classical to contemporary music, and has collaborated with famous conductors, such as Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, and Krzysztof Penderecki. Since 2000, the orchestra has been led by Dennis Russell Davies, who is also the opera director of the Landestheater Linz. He and the artistic director of the Brucknerhaus, Wolfgang Winkler, have strengthened the cooperation and the profile of the orchestra, making it a regular feature on the concert schedule.

Another important event of the Brucknerhaus is the Ars Electronica, a festival of art, technology, and society, which was founded in 1979 as a department of the Brucknerhaus. The festival takes place every year in September, and explores the intersections and the impacts of digital media, science, and innovation on culture and society. The festival includes exhibitions, workshops, symposiums, concerts, and the Prix Ars Electronica, an award for excellence in digital creativity. The Brucknerhaus organizes some of the events of the festival, such as the symposiums, the concerts, and the award ceremony. The foyer of the Brucknerhaus is also used to display various projects and performances during this period.

Another event of the Brucknerhaus is the Linz Cloud of Sound, which was initiated in 1979 by the Brucknerhaus and the Upper Austrian state studio of the ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation). The event is an open-air music festival that takes place every year in early September, on the Donaulände, the park on the banks of the Danube, in front of the Brucknerhaus, between the Nibelungen Bridge and the former railway bridge. The festival features a variety of musical genres, such as classical, jazz, rock, pop, and electronic music, and attracts thousands of listeners and spectators. The festival also has a sound cloud for children and a sound cloud for adults, which are interactive installations that allow the participants to create and experience sounds and music.

The Brucknerhaus also cooperates with other cultural organizations and associations in Linz, such as the Linzer Konzertverein, a concert society that was founded in 1953 and plays twice a year at the Brucknerhaus. The society consists of amateur musicians who perform classical and contemporary works, under the direction of professional conductors. The society also organizes educational programs and workshops for young musicians and audiences.

Linz, Austria