St. Florian Boys’ Choir in Felix Breisach’s homage to the composer’s 200th birthday – on January 1st on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – In addition to the live broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert (from 11:15 a.m. on ORF 2), the annual TV ritual on January 1st also includes the now traditional ORF music film during the concert break. Since 1992, the approximately 24-minute production has aimed to present the best side of Austria with its cultural and natural treasures as well as its history throughout the world and has thus – like the philharmonic concert – become the country’s cultural calling card. As in every year, the so-called “intermission film” in 2024 is dedicated to a special topic or occasion. The Upper Austrian composer Anton Bruckner is being honored, whose birthday is 200 years old and will also be celebrated – for the first time – with a piece in the New Year’s concert program under the direction of Bruckner expert Christian Thielemann. Felix Breisach impressively staged the filmic homage to the musical ruler of the year, who is considered the most innovative composer of the second half of the 19th century and whose groundbreaking works shaped the development of music well into the 20th century. With the participation of two smart choir boys from St. Florian Abbey, where Bruckner himself was a choir boy, later organist and teacher and finally found his final resting place, the film goes in search of traces of the most important stages of his life. “Anton Bruckner – A Journey of Discovery” can be seen on ORF on January 1st at around 11:50 a.m. A Dacapo is on the program at the “matinee” on Epiphany, on Saturday, January 6th, at 9:05 a.m. on ORF 2.
Between Ansfelden and Vienna: Two boys’ choirs and philharmonic ensembles in Bruckner’s world
The St. Florian Boys’ Choir Laurenz Oberfichtner from Zwettl an der Rodl and Frederick Derwein from Linz lead through the history of the New Year’s concert intermission film, looking for the roots and prominent points of life of their predecessor in the traditional boys’ choir and later world-famous musician. On their journey of discovery, which in the film begins with a large organ improvisation on Lake Traunsee early in the morning, they explore the most beautiful Upper Austrian landscapes by balloon, explore, among other things, Anton Buckner’s birthplace of Ansfelden and the St. Florian Monastery, hike through Bad Ischl and visit Linz’s Ars Electronica Bruckner’s place of work in Vienna, the music club, or the Belvedere Garden. They admire and support several philharmonic ensembles that interpret various arrangements of Bruckner compositions at iconic locations. Back in St. Florian, the two choir boys sing their secret hymn, the famous choir “Locus iste”, where Anton Bruckner is buried under the large organ.
For “Anton Bruckner – A Journey of Discovery”, Felix Breisach, a real “intermission film” veteran, is responsible as director and producer. After all, this is his 15th contribution to date, making him the front runner in the over 30-year history of ORF films for the New Year’s Concert. The Styrian himself directed twelve times and exclusively produced three times. “It’s now almost 30 years since I started making ‘intermission films’ and I still enjoy doing it: bringing home to an audience of millions from all over the world,” says the filmmaker and accomplished director of concert and opera productions.
But even with all the routine, producing such a music film is a demanding task, as Felix Breisach emphasizes:
“Non-verbally, it is always a challenge to tell a story using just pictures – as was the case this year with two St. Florian Boys’ Choir, who set out on a magical journey of discovery, listening to the brilliant music of the Vienna Philharmonic as well as special places and memories of Anton Bruckner discover,” says the Graz native. “The two of them come across incredibly well and working with them was really fun.” Together they want to encourage the audience to follow in the footsteps of what is being shown:
“If that works, everything will be fine!”
“Anton Bruckner – A Journey of Discovery” is a co-production between ORF and the Vienna Philharmonic, produced by Felix Breisach Medienwerkstatt.