More than any other of Bruckner’s works, his Symphony No.3 must be understood through the prism of the composer’s fascination for Wagner: not only was it dedicated to his “revered master” but numerous musical quotations from Wagner’s works are peppered throughout the first version of the symphony. However, the vast majority were removed from the third version, the one we will perform, though Bruckner still alludes to Wagner through an accompanying theme played by the violas at the end of the second movement. The programme sets out to highlight the connexion between the two composers by performing the famous extracts from The Valkyrie – Ride of the Valkyries, Wotan’s Farewell and the Magic Fire Music – prior to the symphony.