2024 marks the 200th anniversary of Anton Bruckner's birth. This anniversary is an opportunity for the state of Upper Austria to present the life and work of the great symphonic composer in a varied and contemporary manner far removed from traditional clichés. The Bruckner Year 2024 will also be Upper Austria's first KulturEXPO.
Bruckner is part of Upper Austria and although he does not belong to us, he allows us to be heard all over the world: He is the world, he comes from our land, from this place: "Locus iste" - "This place" - these are the opening words of the Latin motet for a four-part mixed choir, which was composed for the consecration of the votive chapel of the New Cathedral in 1869. "Locus iste" is one of Anton Bruckner's - the genius loci - "world hits".
In the autumn of 2023, an invitation was extended to choirs, singers, musicians and all interested parties to submit a video recording of this piece and thus become part of the opening of the anniversary year. 53 contributions from all over the world were put together - including from the world capital cities of Beijing, Washington DC, Sydney and New Delhi - and heralded the start of the anniversary year on 1 January, 2024 as part of the New Year's Concert at the Brucknerhaus.