Adagio. Sehr langsam

Anton Bruckner never had the opportunity to hear his fifth symphony in concert. The composer's heart condition prevented him from being present when it premiered in Graz in 1894, conducted by Franz Schalk. At that time, the symphony had already been written nearly twenty years previously. After the version conducted by Schalk proved to be a falsification, it took another more than forty years before the original version was heard for the first time, played by the Munich Philharmonic in 1935. Bruckner composed this work during a period of deep depression and despair.