The masses and symphonies of the second half of Bruckner's life immediately come to mind when we think of him. The Augustinian Canons' Monastery of St. Florian played a decisive role in his long personal and artistic development leading up to these top performances. He spent a total of 13 formative years, first as a choirboy, then later as a teacher and provisional monastery organist, in an environment of enlightened Catholicism that was open to the sciences and life in society. In this place of the world, the young village teacher's son searched tenaciously for his own identity as an artist, often full of conflict.
How it all began.
Bruckner's visions
Exhibition at St. Florian Abbey
4 May to 27 October 2024
The abbey's archives contain a large number of documents that shed light on this crucial phase of Bruckner's life with all of its opportunities and risks. For the first time, they are being shown in a comprehensive manner within the framework of an exhibition. There are comments, audio stations and a documentary film. The older Bruckner literature has left us with a minefield of prejudices and misinterpretations. There was talk of the "mystical twilight" of the monastery. "Bruckner and St. Florian" have now been illustrated in a new way in the exhibition rooms.
The inner courtyard of St. Florian's Abbey guarantees visitors a special experience. It features several monumental and globally unique Anton Bruckner pavilions designed by the Linz-based design studio, MARCH GUT. These invite visitors to experience Bruckner's dreams and visions through multimedia presentations. The first offers the opportunity to listen to the world's largest archive of Bruckner's recordings. The archive boasts more than 4,000 recordings. In the next Bruckner pavilion, passages from Bruckner's life story are read aloud, and in the last pavilion you can watch artistic films, including some commissioned works that focus on Bruckner and his work. Each of these pavilions can accommodate up to 25 people. Visitors have the opportunity to intervene in the programme themselves in order to visualise specific content. The programme is aimed at both the general public and experts.
A project of the Upper Austrian KulturEXPO Anton Bruckner 2024 in cooperation with the Augustiner Monastery of St. Florian and the OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH
With the kind support of Oberösterreichische Versicherung
Accessibility
Wheelchairs can be borrowed for the exhibition "How it all began. Bruckner's Visions". Further information is available at the ticket desk in the entrance area.
Information brochures formulated in plain language are available at the exhibition especially for people who have learning, reading or comprehension difficulties.
We warmly invite you to contact us at barrierefrei.bruckner2024@ooe.gv.at with any special requests regarding cultural mediation to ensure that your visit is an enriching experience.