Symphony No.7 (1883/Haas)

Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 in E major (WAB 107) was composed between 1881 and 1883, and marks a turning point in the history of the composer's reception: its premiere in Leipzig in 1884 brought Bruckner the first great public triumph of his symphonic career. To this day, the work is considered one of the most accessible and most frequently performed of his symphonies.

The first movement unfolds a broad, hymn-like principal theme of extraordinary warmth and expansiveness. The celebrated Adagio, originally conceived as a farewell to Richard Wagner — whose death Bruckner already sensed was approaching — ranks among the most deeply moving slow movements in the entire symphonic literature. The solemn sonority of the Wagner tubas lends this movement a distinctive and unmistakable tonal color. The Scherzo and Finale round out the work with vigorous energy and a radiant apotheosis.

The present edition follows the edition prepared by Robert Haas (1944), which adheres closely to Bruckner's original manuscript and refrains from incorporating later revisions. It remains a central reference document for engagement with Bruckner's authentic creative output, and serves as the basis for numerous landmark recordings and performances worldwide.