Alfred Wachs

My office for the day…(And no, it’s not photoshopped!)

What fun to reconnect with fellow alum Terrence Wilson after nearly a quarter century…!

This morning!

This morning I woke up and Vienna was covered in snow. Not much, just enough to make the whole city feel a little softer, the kind of morning you don’t really expect anymore. And maybe that’s what happens when we grow up: believing in little wonders becomes harder, and the magic of Christmas feels further away than it used to. I see it in so many people around me — how quickly they stop trusting that something beautiful might still happen. But today reminded me that it’s worth holding on to that feeling. My mum always said the Christkind comes to those who believe, and maybe she was right in more ways than she knew. Because the people who keep believing… they’re the ones who still get to experience moments like this. 🥹 . . . . #vienna #wien #snowinvienna #christmasinvienna #viennachristmasmarket #schneeinwien

Bruckner 5. Wiener Philharmoniker. Thieleman.

Bruckner 8 is intensely personal for me. As far as symphonic works go, it’s the one. Otto-Werner Mueller’s 1994 performance at Curtis Institute of Music was the culmination of his career. I had just arrived, and after a Thursday night piano seminar—led by either Graffman, Lipkin, or Franck—I followed a sound unlike anything I had ever heard. It was the first time I saw OWM, and I knew instantly that I would study with him.

(My piano teacher at the time, Lipkin, performed an unforgettable Mendelssohn 1 on the same concert. OWM and Lipkin were about as unmatched as Bernstein and Gould—but that’s a whole other story.)

The concert is preserved in the Curtis archives, and I used to have a bootleg copy. For the dress rehearsal, which wasn't captured, I snuck in at sat alone in a box at an otherwise empty Academy of Music and the experience was religious, mystical. It was as a result of the synthesis of the music itself and the quality of the performance and the concentration.

Since then, I’ve heard several fine performances—shoutout to Carl St. Clair and the Pacific Symphony, who have delivered stunning readings of both the Eighth and Alpine. Carl has a true affinity for these kinds of works. I’ve even (attempted to) conduct the Seventh myself and have made my pilgrimage to Sankt Florian, etc.

I first heard of Markus Poschner when I arrived in Vienna. Brucknernites were already raving about his cycle, and I took the first opportunity to see him live at the Musikverein. What I wrote then now seems prophetic (perhaps I should shift career focus…!): in the short time since, his career has taken off. I had just heard the Utah Symphony in Abravanel Hall (as it was being threatened with replacement by a stadium) when his appointment was announced—both smart and fortunate moves on their part.

So I was eager to hear last night’s well-publicized (good work by his team) “Double Eight” concert: Beethoven’s and Bruckner’s. Poschner has also earned accolades for his Beethoven cycle. I caught his Eroica in Salt Lake City, where it seemed the playing hadn’t quite (yet) reached the level of his musicianship. Last night, however—with his own trained orchestra Bruckner Orchester Linz- was an entirely different experience. It was an excellent Eighth, full of conviction. I found myself chuckling at times.

As for the Bruckner: in a moment echoing the Academy of Music, I found myself dead center and alone at the very top of the Musikverein. Once again, it felt like just me, the orchestra, and the music—in the golden hall where the premiere itself took place, with Bruckner present.

Poschner is indeed a true Brucknerian. What an achievement to present a performance of this quality with his own orchestra. Tutti bravi, indeed—and my utmost respect to Poschner. The industry may be troubled, but on this occasion, I couldn’t be happier for the well-deserved success of a colleague.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN Symphonie Nr. 8 F-Dur op. 93
ANTON BRUCKNER Symphonie Nr. 8 c-Moll WAB 108 [Fassung 1890]

Bruckner Orchester Linz | Markus Poschner

15.10.2025 | 19.30
📍Brucknerhaus Linz

19.10.2025 | 19.30
📍Musikverein Wien

https://markusposchner.de/calender/

📸 Robert Josipović

I could not be more proud or happy for my dear friend, Erik Ochsner_Conductor. Many deserved congratulations!

The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and the Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium Association announce Erik Ochsner as the next Music Director of the YSO!

More information about Maestro Ochsner can be found on his website:
erikochsner.com
And on his YouTube channel
https://heyor.ca/IHWIPh

And also check out his work with SONOS Chamber Orchestra:
SONOSChamberOrch.org

So very proud of Efrain Solis (and Ben Bliss and Duke Kim) all of whom sung many roles during my tenure as Music Director & Conductor of The Chapman Orchestra, resident ensemble of Opera Chapman.

From Santa Ana to the stage of NYC’s Metropolitan Opera Columnist Teri Sforza writes: Local teachers, encouragement, helped Chapman grad Efrain Solis shine in the Big Apple.