Bruno Walter on the 150th Anniversary of His Birth with Vladimir Jurowski

Bruno Walter was one of the most important conductors of the 20th century. Not only did he serve as General Music Director of the (then still) Royal Court Opera in Munich, but he was also Kapellmeister of the Gewandhaus, closely associated with the Vienna Court Opera, director of the Berlin Opera, and principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic. His teacher and mentor was Gustav Mahler. He conducted numerous world premieres of works that have gone down in music history, and he also supported female composers such as Ethel Smyth.

But Bruno Walter was far more than just a great conductor: he was a musician who understood sound as an expression of humanity.

Behind the celebrated artist was a man whose life was deeply shaken by the political catastrophes of his time. As a Jewish conductor, Walter was forced to flee the Nazis, lost his positions, and was excluded from Germany’s cultural life. His emigration took him through various stops before finally bringing him to the United States. Despite these upheavals, he retained his openness, his humanity, and his belief in the unifying power of music.

On the occasion of his 150th birthday, we commemorate this great artistic figure through a conversation between the composer and arranger and Walter’s successor as General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera, Vladimir Jurowski. Jurowski, himself one of the most important conductors of our time, holds the memory of Bruno Walter close to his heart.

An evening that is more than a nostalgic retrospective—it is a debate of startling relevance today about artistic and human greatness, about integrity and character, and about keeping memories alive.

Vladimir Jurowski will also perform as a pianist on January 16, 2027. He will perform alongside soloists from the Bavarian State Orchestra.

Vladimir Jurowski

Alexander Krampe, Moderator

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Start: 7:00 p.m.
End: 8:15 p.m.

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