Anton Bruckner – The Enigmatic Genius

The cliché of Bruckner as a “musician of God”, writing symphonies “for the higher honour of the Lord”, doesn’t match his complex and troubled personality, which is as intricate as his music. The film explores Bruckner’s enigmatic relationship with his craft: was he truly a “weirdo” (as Brahms called him), detached from symphonic norms, or a bold musical innovator? Actor Michael Dangl and music journalist Marie König lead this exploration to try to uncover the essence of Bruckner’s character on a journey to the ‘Bruckner sites’ in Upper Austria and Vienna. The film also gathers insights from authentic eyewitness accounts and contemporary reports, as well as interviews with renowned figures like Franz Welser-Möst, Markus Poschner, organist Hansjörg Albrecht, and former Wiener Philharmoniker chairman Clemens Hellsberg.