Classical Concerts in

Frankfurt am Main

Eroica

In 1802, Beethoven decided to "embark on a new path", resulting in his deeply personal "Eroica" Symphony. This groundbreaking work aligns perfectly with Pierre Boulez, the revolutionary composer born 100 years ago. Boulez's twelve piano miniatures, "Notations" from 1945, are remarkably inventive, poetic, and surprisingly relaxed. Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, a Boulez expert, will perform these pieces, alongside their orchestral versions. Ravel's "Miroirs" will provide a resonant afterglow.

KiezPalast: City Life

The KiezPalast explores metropolises like New York, Paris, and Buenos Aires, guided by Katja Riemann. With the hr-Symphony Orchestra, the program explores urban life's fascinations and shadows, from vibrant impressions to the desire for nature's balance. It also ponders the future of livable cities, blending classical music, chanson, and literature across eras in a lighthearted manner. The concert lasts approximately 120 minutes including intermission.

Mozart in Amerika

When Riccardo Minasi conducts Mozart, the symphony orchestra becomes a true dramatist and the concert podium an unleashed opera stage. Two Americans also ensure that the classical balance is powerfully and thrillingly mixed up. Aaron Copland wrote his clarinet concerto for jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman, and William Grant Still was the first African American to have his works performed by a leading orchestra like the New York Philharmonic. Conductor Minasi juxtaposes these with the primal musical forces of 20th-century America by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mozart in Amerika

When Riccardo Minasi conducts Mozart, the symphony orchestra becomes a true dramatist and the concert podium an unleashed opera stage. Two Americans also ensure that the classical balance is powerfully and thrillingly mixed up. Aaron Copland wrote his clarinet concerto for jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman, and William Grant Still was the first African American to have his works performed by a leading orchestra like the New York Philharmonic. Conductor Minasi juxtaposes these with the primal musical forces of 20th-century America by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

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.

Pathétique

Tchaikovsky's deeply moving Sixth Symphony will be performed by the hr-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann. The former celebrated alto singer claims that conducting feels "like 100 voices singing inside of her". Baritone Matthias Goerne, known for his expressive voice, will also perform six songs from Mahler's "Des Knaben Wunderhorn". The concert duration is approximately 120 minutes including intermission.

Pathétique

Tchaikovsky's deeply moving Sixth Symphony will be performed by the hr-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann. The former celebrated alto singer claims that conducting feels "like 100 voices singing inside of her". Baritone Matthias Goerne, known for his expressive voice, will also perform six songs from Mahler's "Des Knaben Wunderhorn". The concert duration is approximately 120 minutes including intermission.

Quintessenz

Beethoven's quintet originated from a late-stage trio, while Bruch's, also a late work, was long lost. Both quintets possess a unique maturity, a musical essence of many years. They captivate immediately, as does Haydn's masterful quartet. Beethoven transformed his quintet from a bold, impetuous youthful piece, while the eighty-year-old Bruch reaffirmed his traditional credo. Looking back, he quotes himself – a reminiscence and self-affirmation of his past. (Concert duration: approx. 110 minutes including intermission)

Strawinskys Jahrmarkt

Young solo bassoonist Theo Plath introduces Stravinsky's Petrushka, a ballet about a tragic fairground hero, to school classes. Set in 19th-century St. Petersburg, the music is dynamic and colorful. Three puppets come to life, leading to a jealousy drama between Petrushka and his rival over a ballerina. Stravinsky's sharp contrasts shocked early 20th-century audiences. The 60-minute concert, designed for grades 5-10, includes pre- and post-concert materials.

Tuba-Tänze

Tuba meets dance with hr-soloist Ole Heiland performing John Williams's light and melodious concerto, written for the Boston Pops Orchestra's centennial. Paired with Stravinsky's dynamic and provocative dance burlesque Petrushka, conducted by the spirited Tianyi Lu. Concert duration: 65 minutes without intermission.

Gastspiel in Frankfurt

L’heure extraordinaire

Harpist Anne-Sophie Bertrand and tenor Kent Carlson offer an extraordinary performance at Latin Palace Changó. The concert blends harp sounds with songs, poetry with travesty, melancholy with irony, and emotion with sensation. The 90-minute concert (including intermission) takes place in the unique ambiance of Frankfurt's trendy South American dance club.

American Style

Classical conductor Patrick Hahn, also a renowned jazz pianist, will lead an American program featuring Gershwin, Bernstein, and Duke Ellington. Hahn, General Music Director in Wuppertal, possesses rare qualities for his young age. He understands the psychological aspect of conducting, inspiring musicians to perform at their best. Jazz pianist Frank Dupree joins as soloist in Gershwin's Concerto in F.

American Style

Classical conductor Patrick Hahn, also a renowned jazz pianist, will lead an American program featuring Gershwin, Bernstein, and Duke Ellington. Hahn, General Music Director in Wuppertal, possesses rare qualities for his young age. He understands the psychological aspect of conducting, inspiring musicians to perform at their best. Jazz pianist Frank Dupree joins as soloist in Gershwin's Concerto in F.

Rhapsody in Blue

Good kids play violin in the orchestra, cool kids play sax in the big band - isn't that how it always is in school? Of course, that's a cliché. But the big band and symphony orchestra are two different worlds. Here, however, both come together for Gershwin's eternal classics, along with Alain Altinoglu on the piano. Gershwin, the man who supplied American music with the sophistication of the classical orchestra format and the slightly brash sound of a jazzy, fresh wind section, and hits like "Rhapsody in Blue," in which chief conductor Alain Altinoglu can show that he also cuts a dazzling figure at the keyboard. If, however, something honks during the orchestral piece "An American in Paris," it's not the hr-Bigband's fault. No, Gershwin himself wrote car horns into his score. The good kids play violin, everyone else wants to play the horn in the hr Symphony Orchestra.

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.

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-Gipfel mit Escaich

Thierry Escaich joins the chamber music series, performing Mozart's "Kegelstatt" Trio and Schumann's "Märchenerzählungen," his own virtuoso "Trio américain," and improvisations. Mozart's trio birthed a new instrumental formation, to which Schumann responded 70 years later after hearing it with Clara. Escaich's own trio evokes echoes of bygone eras.

Music Discovery Project

The encounter between different musical worlds is the hallmark of this major music event, which fills the Jahrhunderthalle once a year. Unusual mixes and contrasts between classical and pop, orchestra and electronics – with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and special guests. This time: ClockClock.Behind the name is the singer/songwriter Boki and the producer collective around Mark and Feezy – the trio creates the Mannheim band's extraordinary songs and energetic sounds. ClockClock's journey began seven years ago in a jam session in the Palatinate and led to three number one hits in the German radio charts by 2023, with the songs »Sorry«, »Someone Else« and »Over« as well as the first sold-out tour »Dreamers« and shows with P!NK, SIMPLY RED and One Republic, among others. Through their journey so far, 2024 has encouraged, inspired and made it clear that it's worth dreaming and giving it your all with the right people by your side. Together with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, ClockClock is going on an unusual »AusZeit« in the Music Discovery Project and opening up space and time for dreams of a very special kind. ClockClock's rousing songs are juxtaposed with orchestral atmospheric images and intense symphonic snapshots from the world of classical music, combining to create an evening that is sure to leave you feeling happy. Conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony is Frank Strobel, known to many as a profound film music conductor who has already realized numerous inspiring music projects with the hr-Sinfonieorchester, including two editions of the Music Discovery Project. The Artistic Director of the European Film Philharmonic comes from Munich, where his parents ran a movie theater. He has been involved with »moving pictures« all his life and is the perfect conductor for the eye- and ear-stimulating Music Discovery Project.Concert duration: about 120 minutes – without a break!

Music Discovery Project 2025

The hallmark of this major annual music event at the Jahrhunderthalle is the encounter of diverse musical worlds. This year features unusual mixes and contrasts between classical and pop, orchestra and electronica with the hr-Sinfonieorchester and special guests ClockClock.

Music Discovery Project

The encounter between different musical worlds is the hallmark of this major music event, which fills the Jahrhunderthalle once a year. Unusual mixes and contrasts between classical and pop, orchestra and electronics – with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and special guests. This time: ClockClock.Behind the name is the singer/songwriter Boki and the producer collective around Mark and Feezy – the trio creates the Mannheim band's extraordinary songs and energetic sounds. ClockClock's journey began seven years ago in a jam session in the Palatinate and led to three number one hits in the German radio charts by 2023, with the songs »Sorry«, »Someone Else« and »Over« as well as the first sold-out tour »Dreamers« and shows with P!NK, SIMPLY RED and One Republic, among others. Through their journey so far, 2024 has encouraged, inspired and made it clear that it's worth dreaming and giving it your all with the right people by your side. Together with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, ClockClock is going on an unusual »AusZeit« in the Music Discovery Project and opening up space and time for dreams of a very special kind. ClockClock's rousing songs are juxtaposed with orchestral atmospheric images and intense symphonic snapshots from the world of classical music, combining to create an evening that is sure to leave you feeling happy. Conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony is Frank Strobel, known to many as a profound film music conductor who has already realized numerous inspiring music projects with the hr-Sinfonieorchester, including two editions of the Music Discovery Project. The Artistic Director of the European Film Philharmonic comes from Munich, where his parents ran a movie theater. He has been involved with »moving pictures« all his life and is the perfect conductor for the eye- and ear-stimulating Music Discovery Project.Concert duration: about 120 minutes – without a break!

Music Discovery Project 2025

The hallmark of this major annual music event at the Jahrhunderthalle is the encounter of diverse musical worlds. This year features unusual mixes and contrasts between classical and pop, orchestra and electronica with the hr-Sinfonieorchester and special guests ClockClock.

Brandenburgische Konzerte 1–6

Bach's "Six Concerts with Several Instruments," better known as the Brandenburg Concertos, are neither solo concertos nor concerti grossi. Instead, they showcase the diverse ways instruments can interact. Maurice Steger, a recorder virtuoso, demonstrates the recorder's refined role in these pieces. The concert lasts approximately 125 minutes including intermission.

Brandenburgische Konzerte 1–6

Bach's "Six Concerts with Several Instruments," better known as the Brandenburg Concertos, are neither solo concertos nor concerti grossi. Instead, they showcase the diverse ways instruments can interact. Maurice Steger, a recorder virtuoso, demonstrates the recorder's refined role in these pieces. The concert lasts approximately 125 minutes including intermission.

Women Power

Female composers have long been overlooked throughout history. This concert will showcase many of them, including Clara Schumann, Lili Boulanger, Rebecca Clark, Isabella Leonarda, Marie Jaëll, Mélanie Bonis, Maria Theresia von Paradis, and Emilie Mayer. The concert, including intermission, will last approximately 110 minutes.

Fantastische Sinfonie

Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" depicts a man's descent into madness due to unrequited love. The symphony features grotesque dreams, death knells, a guillotine, and a witches' sabbath. Berlioz called this masterpiece "Episode in the Life of an Artist," a truly bizarre trip with visions of waltzes, murder, execution, and ultimately, a wild, orgiastic climax. This dark, chilling Romantic symphony, full of extreme sound effects, truly deserves its name.

Symphonie fantastique

Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique" takes the audience on a journey through an artist's life, experiencing a groundbreaking sound journey. The artist, infatuated with a woman, sees her at a ball, seeks peace in the countryside, and has opium-induced visions of his execution and a demonic burial. Béla Bartók's 2nd Violin Concerto also traverses diverse worlds, with Christian Tetzlaff as the soloist, experiencing a thrilling finale.

Symphonie fantastique

Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique" takes the audience on a journey through an artist's life, experiencing a groundbreaking sound journey. The artist, infatuated with a woman, sees her at a ball, seeks peace in the countryside, and has opium-induced visions of his execution and a demonic burial. Béla Bartók's 2nd Violin Concerto also traverses diverse worlds, with Christian Tetzlaff as the soloist, experiencing a thrilling finale.

Feldmaus Frederick und die Farben

While other field mice diligently gather grains for winter, Frederick seems idle, collecting sun rays, colors, and words for the long, gray days. The classic children's book "Frederick" by Leo Lionni comes to life with music by Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Grieg, and Elgar, making Frederick's tales and the changing seasons audible. Concert duration: approx. 60 minutes - no intermission!