Listening to Richard Wagner’s music inspired Anton Bruckner, then a church musician in a provincial monastery, to start writing symphonies, although ironically, Wagner himself only completed one symphony in his lifetime.

Bruckner’s fame, on the other hand, largely rests on his symphonies. Under the direction of Dutch-Maltese conductor Lawrence Renes, the MPO will be performing his fourth, the only one to which he attached a title.

The orchestra will also be joined by British soprano Emma Bell for a performance of Wagner’s Wesendonck lieder, a musical setting of five poems by Mathilde Wesendonck, a friend – and possible lover – of the German composer.

The performance will be held today at 7.30pm at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. For more information, call 2124 3840, e-mail sales@mcc.com.mt or visit http://www.mcc.com.mt. For tickets visit www.showshappening.com.