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Philosophy of this Organization

Culture on the highest level, contemporary creativity, world-renowned orchestras, soloists and conductors, Brucknerfest, Ars Electronica, “The other program” ...

The opening of the Brucknerhaus in 1974 meant the fulfillment of the people of Linz’s wish for a world-class concert hall. The most famous orchestras, conductors and soloists have made the Brucknerhaus a venue of international renown and have been delighted guests here ever since. And the Brucknerfest has played a major part in positioning Linz and building its image as a capital of cultural. Nevertheless, right from the outset, it was clear to those in charge that a festival dedicated first and foremost to the work of Anton Bruckner would hardly be able to meet the challenges of the future.

The founding of the Ars Electronica Festival in 1979 brought about the decisive breakthrough enabling Linz to establish a high-profile image all its own. Ars Electronica was based on an idea by Linz musician Hubert Bognermayr and its implementation and expansion into a festival by Dr. Hannes Leopoldseder, the director of the ORF – Austrian Broadcasting Company’s Upper Austria Regional Studio. Dr. Horst Stadlmayr, general manager of the LIVA organization that had been set up in 1971, was the key man who provided this festival with a home in the Brucknerhaus. Being situated between the poles of tradition and the future meant achieving a very distinctive, highly individual image that brought worldwide recognition for Linz.

The mission inherent in each season’s program has always been to offer audiences performances on the highest level of artistry as well as diverse currents of contemporary creativity.

The introduction of “The Other Program” (now Music.Word) by Managing Director Karl Gerbel was a successful response to the gradual metamorphosis of the concept of art. The development of music in the second half of the 20th century was also essentially driven by pop and non-European music, and “The Other Program” took into account the wishes of concertgoers to be exposed to these developments.