Bruckner - Symphony No 9

Despite studying music from an early age, Anton Bruckner was a late-starter when it came to composing symphonies. However when he was 40 he heard a performance of Wagner's opera Tannhäuser that captivated him with its forward-thinking musical language. With this as inspiration, he was to produce ten symphonies over the following decades that would secure his reputation as one of the form's greatest exponents. Bruckner's symphonies are often described as 'Gothic cathedrals in sound,' an apt description considering the composer's devout faith and early vocation as an organist. He died before he could finish his Symphony No 9 but within its three movements can be found some of his most complete music, imbued with a sense of deep solace and resolution. Sir Colin Davis has recently begun to regularly conduct Bruckner's symphonies and has developed a profound understanding of the composer's sumptuous layers of sound.

at the Rostropovich Competition in Paris, Anne Gastinel pursued an impressive solo career which took her on annual worldwide tours around Europe, Africa, Asia and America performing in prestigious halls among which the Salle Pleyel, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Théâtre Châtelet, Schauspielhaus, Musikverein, Santori Hall, Victoria Hall.

For the past 12 years she has equally been performing with internationally renown orchestras and distinguished artists such as Kurt Sanderling, Emmanuel Krivine, Louis Langrée, Semyon Bychkov, Vladimir Spivakov, Pinchas Steinberg, Yuri Bashmet, Max Rabinovitsj, Lord Yehudi Menuhin…

Her recording career both in chamber and orchestral music won acclaimed success from the international press and resulted in great distinctions such as the Victoires "Young Talent 1994", Victoires "Best Recording of the year" 1995, "Discothèque idéale", Prix "Fnac" in 1995 and 2000 the Prix de l'Académie du disque et Classique d'Or by French Radio RTL in 1996 and 1998 - the "Choc" du Monde de la Musique, Télérama≈≈≈≈ 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002.

Designated unanimously in 1997 as ambassador of French cello, Anne Gastinel was nominated in New York by Marta Casals-Istomin to receive the mythical Matteo Gofriller cello belonging to Pablo Casals. Presently Miss Gastinel performs on a Testore made in 1690 (association "Fonds Instrumental Français").

She has received several distinctions among which the "Femme en Or 2002" for the Perfoming Arts. Anne Gastinel has also held the honory position of Patron for the "Festival des Rencontres de Musique de Chambre de Lyon" since 2000.

Anne Gastinel continues to charm her audience wherever she performs - striving to privilege the art of sharing - the very essence of music to her eyes.