Recorded in March 1990, this performance of Anton Bruckner's Ninth Symphony is Leonard Bernstein's last concert with the Vienna Philharmonic, an orchestra he deeply loved. When Bernstein died in 1990 at the age of 72, music lovers all over the world mourned the loss of one of the 20th century's artistic giants. In addition to his role as conductor, composer, educator and performing artist, Bernstein was one of the early pioneers in bringing the arts to television. Like Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Anton Bruckner's Ninth can be regarded as the composer's musical testament: "I dedicate my last work to the Lord of lords, to my dear God. I hope that He will grant me enough time to complete it." His wish was not fulfilled; the composer was still working on the finale the day he died and the symphony remained a torso. Bruckner nevertheless considered the work as the crowning point of his oeuvre, and he is said to have woven his musical farewell to life in the symphony's Adagio.