Until late in his career, Bruckner was understood and admired only within a small circle - a handful of advocates of his music, both pupils and Wagnerites. As he was composing his Symphony No.7, Bruckner heard news of the death of his musical idol Richard Wagner. He immediately decided to dedicate the work to his remembrance. The seventh symphony marked Bruckner's breakthrough into widespread public acceptance, and since its premiere it has remained the most frequently performed of his nine symphonies. This gut-wrenching performance by Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra features the finest in recorded sound.