ABSTRACT
Anton Bruckner the virtuoso' – of that there is no doubt; there are several eyewitness accounts of his playing at St Florian from the 1840s onwards, at Kremsmunster, Klosterneuburg, Vocklabruck, Linz Cathedral and several churches in Vienna. It is well known that Johann Herbeck was largely responsible for Bruckner's move from Linz to Vienna in 1868. The payment in July 1869 was possibly in recognition of Bruckner's success in representing Austria as an organist in Nancy and Paris at the end of April and beginning of May. Bruckner's French successes naturally aroused great interest in both Linz and Vienna and there were several newspaper reports. The main event of 1871 for Bruckner was undoubtedly his visit to London. On the evening of his arrival in London Bruckner went to the Royal Albert Hall to practise. A number of people gathered round the organ to listen to Bruckner who played on until late evening.
