World Premiere

London Symphony Orchestra/Maxime Pascal

Celebrating Pierre Boulez and his influences, in the composer’s centenary year: his beloved Debussy, alongside three intriguing world premieres.

Klangwucht – Rachmaninow & Marsalis

Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto, known for its emotional depth and technical demands, is tackled by the award-winning 20-year-old pianist Yunchan Lim. Following this, jazz star Wynton Marsalis demonstrates his creative power as a composer within a classical music setting.

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano

The programme for the 6th Philharmonic Concert includes a world premiere that reflects our times. Jörg Widmann, who has been in close artistic contact with Kent Nagano, particularly since the great success of his ARCHE for the opening of the Elbphilharmonie, has recently written a decidedly peaceful work in view of the global wars: »Cantata in tempore belli«. Jens Harzer takes on the role of narrator. Ida Aldrian sings the alto part.

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano

The programme for the 6th Philharmonic Concert includes a world premiere that reflects our times. Jörg Widmann, who has been in close artistic contact with Kent Nagano, particularly since the great success of his ARCHE for the opening of the Elbphilharmonie, has recently written a decidedly peaceful work in view of the global wars: »Cantata in tempore belli«. Jens Harzer takes on the role of narrator. Ida Aldrian sings the alto part.

ECLAT

Comfort, critique, experimentation, and harmony define contemporary composing. Agata Zubel's choral piece, inspired by Gerhard Richter's societal critiques, joins Ulrich Kreppein's work based on Federico García Lorca's poetry. Younghi Pagh-Paan's piece offers solace through biblical texts. The ECLAT Festival also features instrumental debuts by Zeynep Toraman and Arne Gieshoff, performed by the experimental Duo Saviet/Houston.

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / NDR Vokalensemble / Alan Gilbert

»Elbphilharmonie Visions« enters its second round with musical fireworks: under the baton of chief conductor and festival initiator Alan Gilbert, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra performs the new work »World Builder, Creature« by young British high-flyer Alex Paxton. »I want to make music that makes me feel most alive when I’m writing it and when I’m listening to it,« explains the 33-year-old. The result: an unmistakable blend of video game soundtracks, virtuoso chamber music and jazz improvisation, which was honoured with the Claussen Simon Composition Prize.

My Melodies

Helmut Lachenmann's music for eight horns seeks new ways of listening, not new sounds. Christian Mason's composition sees the orchestra as a giant resonating instrument. In between, Lachenmann's first major piano work. Lachenmann's "My Melodies" goes beyond the classical soloist and any notion of melody. He aims to make perception tangible through unconventional use of familiar instruments and tones. The hr-Sinfonieorchester, along with two Lachenmann experts, perform this extraordinary concert.

LPO Showcase: Junior Artists

The LPO Junior Artists Programme supports exceptionally talented teenage musicians from backgrounds currently under-represented in professional UK orchestras.Junior Artists spend a season with us and become fully immersed in the workings of the LPO. They are each mentored by a member of the Orchestra, and take part in a variety of performances, behind-the-scenes activities and skills workshops, as well as events to inspire future generations of young musicians.In this free performance, the Junior Artists perform alongside LPO musicians, Foyle Future Firsts and Junior Artist alumni in a celebration of vibrant young talent, under the baton of Matthew Lynch, LPO Fellow Conductor 2024/25.No booking required.

Fin de Siècle

This Liederabend pays tribute to Clytus Gottwald, who transformed fin de siècle music, including piano songs and orchestral pieces, into choral works. While composers like Richard Strauss briefly experimented with vocal music, Gottwald combined Strauss's instrumental approach with Ligeti's vocal techniques, creating a new genre of over 100 transcriptions, starting with pieces by Ravel, Berg, and Mahler.

Fin de Siècle

This Liederabend pays tribute to Clytus Gottwald, who transformed fin de siècle music, including piano songs and orchestral pieces, into choral works. While composers like Richard Strauss briefly experimented with vocal music, Gottwald combined Strauss's instrumental approach with Ligeti's vocal techniques, creating a new genre of over 100 transcriptions, starting with pieces by Ravel, Berg, and Mahler.

Symphonie Fantastique

Berlioz claimed that his Symphonie fantastique depicted an opium dream, but really he was just high on the sound of a supersized orchestra going for broke.Sex and drugs and symphony orchestras: Hector Berlioz claimed that his Symphonie fantastique depicted an opium dream, but really he was just high on the sound of a supersized orchestra going for broke. Love, witchcraft, severed heads – it’s all here, in psychedelic colours, and you’d better believe that it’s a hard act to follow. That’s why Edward Gardner and the superb violinist Augustin Hadelich are setting the scene with Britten’s powerful Violin Concerto, and with the world premiere of Sphinx by David Sawer – a British composer whose raw imagination can give even Berlioz a run for his money.

Fin de Siècle

This Liederabend pays tribute to Clytus Gottwald, who transformed fin de siècle music, including piano songs and orchestral pieces, into choral works. While composers like Richard Strauss briefly experimented with vocal music, Gottwald combined Strauss's instrumental approach with Ligeti's vocal techniques, creating a new genre of over 100 transcriptions, starting with pieces by Ravel, Berg, and Mahler.

Gershwin

A program in the spirit of the great American whose music always exudes a unique casualness. Featuring the hr-Bigband and the hr-Symphony Orchestra, two sound worlds united for Gershwin and a world premiere by Thierry Escaich. Gershwin's music, always on the pulse of turbulent times, is exemplified by his "Rhapsody in Blue." The chief conductor himself takes to the piano keys, adding to the coolness. Concert duration: approx. 120 minutes including intermission.

Trio E. T. A.

Trio E.T.A. is an Estonian instrumental music group formed in 2010 by Aet Maatee, Taavo Remmel, and Erki Pärtelpoeg. They released their debut album "Eesti Transatlantilised Akordid" in 2012.

Gershwin

A program in the spirit of the great American whose music always exudes a unique casualness. Featuring the hr-Bigband and the hr-Symphony Orchestra, two sound worlds united for Gershwin and a world premiere by Thierry Escaich. Gershwin's music, always on the pulse of turbulent times, is exemplified by his "Rhapsody in Blue." The chief conductor himself takes to the piano keys, adding to the coolness. Concert duration: approx. 120 minutes including intermission.

Britten Sinfonia: 1945 – A Kind of Haunting

80 years after the end of WWII, we hear musical responses from then and now.

National Open Youth Orchestra: Ring Out!

Experience the emotionally charged performances of one of the most exciting youth orchestras in the world.

Schwetzinger SWR Festspiele

The Frankfurt Radio Symphony will perform at the Schwetzingen SWR Festival in early May. The festival opens with the premiere of Mike Svoboda's "Adam und Eva," a music-theater piece for six singers, an actor, choir, and orchestra based on Peter Hacks's comedy and commissioned by SWR and Landestheater Linz.

Schwetzinger SWR Festspiele

The Frankfurt Radio Symphony will perform at the Schwetzingen SWR Festival in early May. The festival opens with the premiere of Mike Svoboda's "Adam und Eva," a music-theater piece for six singers, an actor, choir, and orchestra based on Peter Hacks's comedy and commissioned by SWR and Landestheater Linz.

Virtuoser Dialog

Ensemble Resonanz / Nils Mönkemeyer / William Youn / Riccardo Minasi

»This Mozart is rock ’n’ roll«, said the NDR about the recording of the last three Mozart symphonies by Ensemble Resonanz under its Principal Guest Conductor Riccardo Minasi. Symphony No. 35 »Haffner« is now on the programme with this level of energy. In addition, Nils Mönkemeyer on the viola and William Youn on the piano explore fragments from Mozart’s pen. The programme ends with Mozart’s symphony in all its elegance, preceded by his thoughts in the form of sketches and fragments, arranged by Isabel Mundry: melodies to whistle along to, a charming minuet, a presto with verve and a rapturous gesture. The casual overture by his contemporary Marianna von Martines invites us into the salon of the 18th century, while in a new chamber concerto Manfred Trojahn distils the muted sound of gardens that have become silent.

Ein Fest für Neues

Lera Auerbach, a prominent composer, pianist, and author, will have her piece, Adam's Lament, premiered at the 10th Philharmonic Concert. Award-winning trumpeter Selina Ott will debut with the Bremen Philharmonic, performing Weinberg's Trumpet Concerto. The concert concludes with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, also known as the Fate Symphony. A pre-concert introduction starts 30 minutes prior in the Glocke's "Kleinen Saal".

Ein Fest für Neues

Lera Auerbach, a prominent composer, pianist, and author, will have her piece, Adam's Lament, premiered at the 10th Philharmonic Concert. Award-winning trumpeter Selina Ott will debut with the Bremen Philharmonic, performing Weinberg's Trumpet Concerto. The concert concludes with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, also known as the Fate Symphony. A pre-concert introduction starts 30 minutes prior in the Glocke's "Kleinen Saal".

Gastkonzert: Natur und Mensch

Man's relationship with nature is complex: a place of longing, a role model, and a victim. Nørgård uses Rilke's texts to find this connection in sound. Mason composes based on swarm intelligence, mirroring fish and birds' survival strategies. Staud's choir remembers death marches witnessed by willows. Pagh-Paan tells of Korea's exploitation and societal upheaval leading to a "loss of soul".

Selfie in the Dark

Für ihn ist Komponieren eine Art Medikament gegen die Gewalt des Lebens. Georges Aperghis ist »eine unverwechselbare Stimme und ein herausragender Komponist unserer Zeit«, so die Würdigung der Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung. Bei »Selfie in the Dark« handelt es sich um einen Kompositionsauftrag des Festivals, der hier zur Uraufführung kommt – und dass der Aperghis in Erinnerung an seine verstorbene Frau Edith komponiert hat. Auf der Suche nach dem Klang der Stille hingegen komponierte Eivind Buene 2017 im norwegischen Winter »Lessons in Darkness« und imaginierte dabei das Ensemble als menschliche Gemeinschaft. Ergänzt wird das Programm durch eine:n Preisträger:in des ACHT BRÜCKEN Kompositionswettbewerbs. Gefördert durch das Kuratorium KölnMusik e.V. Gefördert durch die Kunststiftung NRWDas Konzert wird vom WDR für den Hörfunk mitgeschnitten. Sendetermin und Link finden Sie auf unserer Webseite.

Gastkonzert: Natur und Mensch

Man's relationship with nature is complex: a place of longing, a role model, and a victim. Nørgård uses Rilke's texts to find this connection in sound. Mason composes based on swarm intelligence, mirroring fish and birds' survival strategies. Staud's choir remembers death marches witnessed by willows. Pagh-Paan tells of Korea's exploitation and societal upheaval leading to a "loss of soul".

The Oddity Effect

Berlin-based composer, performer, and sound artist Yiran Zhao, originally from China, incorporates light, shadow, performance, and visual media in her work. British composer Christian Mason's new piece, "The Oddity Effect," uses text by Paul Griffiths about the light-related swarming behavior of fish. Ustina Dubitsky, winner of the Besançon and La Maestra conducting competitions, will conduct both pieces and the premiere of a prize-winning work from the ACHT BRÜCKEN Composition Competition. This concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia and recorded by WDR radio.

Jubilee concert 100 years Rundfunkchor Berlin

Ensemble Resonanz / Abel Selaocoe / Saerom Park

South African cellist Abel Selaocoe redefines the parameters of the cello and combines virtuoso skills with improvisation, singing and body percussion. He has found an ideal ally in Ensemble Resonanz, which also enthusiastically explores innovative and new paths in its concerts, sometimes as the Ensemble in Residence of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and sometimes in the chamber music club it founded itself in the Hamburg district of St Pauli. Together they move through worlds, genres and eras – until they arrive together in the future. In »Silent Woods« by Antonín Dvořák, the leaves rustle in the wind with four celli. »When We Were Trees« by Italian cellist and composer Giovanni Sollima takes us through the seasons in a true sound adventure with a mix of different styles – sometimes classical, sometimes folkloristic, sometimes percussive, sometimes meditative. Kate Moore contributes a new composition for cello and Selaocoe’s voice.