23-25 May. Antonio Pappano conducts Bruckner's eigth symphony with the S. Ceclia Orchestra. Bruckner's eighth symphony, which was his last, exists in three forms, one written in 1887, revised in 1890 and then reworked again in1892. It was dedicated to the Emperor Franz Joseph but was considered too complicated and was not well received by critics and audiences. It had its first performance in the US in 1909 and in London twenty years later in 1929. Pappano, who describes the work as an almost “religious experience”, as “a cathedral”, first conducted the work in March 2012 at S. Cecilia. But even in his enthusiasm Pappano admits that this monumental work needs patience and understanding.