August 17 - Ansfelden - Hoershing - Leonding - Windhaag

Today was a very busy day. We started at Ansfelden - Bruckner's birth house - where several groups were waiting for us. A film crew was there to record John Berky for an upcoming documentary and a lone cameraman was there to record an interview for a local documentary. Dr. Thekla Weissengruber from the Upper Austria National Museums gave the group a guided tour of the Bruckner Museum. Peter Aigner from the Ansfelden Brucknerbund welcomed us and told of the plans for the "Bruckner 200" celebrations. Finally, Renate Heitz, the Deputy Mayor of Ansfelden presented all tour members with home-baked cookies with a very clever Bruckner silhouette. John Berky was presented with a pewter plate depicting scenes from Ansfelden.

Next, we visited the remote site in Leonding where Bruckner entertained Otto Kitzler and his wife upon the completion of his music studies.

Hoershing was the next stop - it was a place where Bruckner spent a few happy years living with a family and taking music lessons. It all ended quickly with the death of his father.

We visited the incredible carved alter in Kefermarkt and then went to Windhaag, the remote little town where Bruckner spent some unhappy years as an assistant schoolmaster.

Finally, we returned to St. Florian and a concert featuring the Symphony No. 7 with Remy Ballot conducting the Altomonte Orchestra St. Florian.

Parish Church in Ansfelden

Peter Aigner makes a presentation

John Berky talking to Renate Heitz - Ansfelden's Deputy Mayer

John Berky being presented with Ansfelden's Commemorative plate

The Bruckner Cookie

John Berky with Dr. Thekla Weissengruber, Director of the Upper Austria Museums

Playing with the Kid's costumes

Group photo at Ansfelden

The plate presented to John Berky

The plaque at Leonding

The plaque at Hoershing

The alter at Kefermarkt