Concerts with works by

Edward Elgar

Elgar's Enigma Variations & Bernstein's West Side Story

The Sunday Morning Concert brings you wonderful and much-loved compositions, performed by top musicians from the Netherlands and abroad. Enjoy the most beautiful music in the morning! You can make your Sunday complete by enjoying a delicious post-concert lunch in restaurant LIER.The Royal Concertgebouw is one of the best concert halls in the world, famous for its exceptional acoustics and varied programme. Attend a concert and have an experience you will never forget. Come and enjoy inspiring music in the beautiful surroundings of the Main Hall or the intimate Recital Hall.

VOCES8 Love Endureth. Lieder von Liebe und Abschied

VOCES8, renowned for their perfect blend of flawless execution and lively stage presence, return to Heidelberg. Their unique appeal stems from their captivating sound and innovative fusion of old and new, sacred and secular music. Artistic director Barnaby Smith aims for concerts that evoke both laughter and tears. This performance explores love, loss, and eternity, promising an emotional journey.

Guest performance

Enigma variations – musical guessing games

At this concert, the RSB presents the Enigma Variations, the most frequently performed work by the English composer Edward Elgar. In this ingenious composition, Elgar describes people from his surroundings. During the concert, the musical character portraits can be diligently guessed. Is Elgar describing himself or a person he loves or rather someone whose piano playing he admires? Juri Tetzlaff leads through the concert in an entertaining and varied way.

Enigma variations – guessing games

At this concert, the RSB presents the Enigma Variations, the most frequently performed work by the English composer Edward Elgar. In this ingenious composition, Elgar describes people from his surroundings. During the concert, the musical character portraits can be diligently guessed. Is Elgar describing himself or a person he loves or rather someone whose piano playing he admires? Juri Tetzlaff leads through the concert in an entertaining and varied way.

NDR Vokalensemble / Simon Halsey

British conductor Simon Halsey leads »SINGING!« 2025 and, together with the NDR Vokalensemble, the award-winning choral conductor wants to breathe new life into the participatory concert after the coronavirus years. Register now to take part!

PhilharmonieLunch

Experience a small break from everyday life at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall – inspiring, touching, authentic. A place full of music, for an unusual lunch break, a break from the city noise or simply a break from everyday life. The Philharmonic Lunch is made possible by KölnMusik together with the WDR Symphony Orchestra and the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne.

Musik am Mittag

Midday music with the WDR Rundfunkchor: Switch off from everyday life, whether during your lunch break or as an island of peace while strolling through the city, and enjoy blissful choral music!

Sinfonia Varsovia / Pinchas Zukerman

The legendary maestro Pinchas Zukerman returns to the Elbphilharmonie! He will be joined by the Sinfonia Varsovia, one of the most important symphony orchestras in Europe. Works by Mozart, Elgar and Mendelssohn Bartholdy will be performed in a festive concert. The violinist, violist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman was born in Tel Aviv in 1948. In 1961, at the age of 13, he met Pablo Casals and Isaac Stern at the first Israel Festival. A year later, he went to New York to study with Ivan Galamian at the Juilliard School of Music and made his concert debut just a short time later. As an internationally sought-after soloist and conductor, Pinchas Zukerman performs with major orchestras including the English Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. In addition to numerous awards and prizes, Pinchas Zukerman has received two GRAMMY Awards for his more than 100 CD recordings in the categories »Best Classical Performance« and »Best Chamber Music Performance«. His musical partners include Daniel Barenboim, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta, Yefim Bronfman and Amanda Forsyth, with whom he is also close friends. The Sinfonia Varsovia is one of the most important symphony orchestras in Europe. When the legendary violinist, violist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin came to Warsaw in 1984 to work with the Polish Chamber Orchestra, it was expanded and became Sinfonia Varsovia. Shortly afterwards, Yehudi Menuhin became the orchestra’s first guest conductor. Since then, the orchestra has performed worldwide and recorded more than 300 albums.

Gewandhausorchester, Alan Gilbert Dirigent

Brahms' Third Symphony, premiered in 1884, is his shortest and focuses on depth. Hans von Bülow liked it so much he played it twice in one concert. Elgar's Violin Concerto, inspired by Fritz Kreisler's praise, took four years to compose. Its premiere shook Queen's Hall, and a year later, Arthur Nikisch led another impactful performance at the Gewandhaus.

Gewandhausorchester, Alan Gilbert Dirigent

Brahms' Third Symphony, premiered in 1884, is his shortest and focuses on depth. Hans von Bülow liked it so much he played it twice in one concert. Elgar's Violin Concerto, inspired by Fritz Kreisler's praise, took four years to compose. Its premiere shook Queen's Hall, and a year later, Arthur Nikisch led another impactful performance at the Gewandhaus.

Listen & Sing - Einblicke in Edward Elgars The Dream of Gerontius

"The Dream of Gerontius" by Edward Elgar is one of the most popular oratorios in England. The libretto comes from the pen of the English cardinal John Henry Newman, who describes the finiteness of human existence as a journey of the soul into the hereafter. A sacred Everyman, so to speak, and an unusual story for an oratorio full of moving choral moments. Why Edward Elgar himself gave this composition the highest priority in his work to date and why it is worth putting "The Dream of Gerontius" on the program more often here: You will find out both practically and theoretically in this event. Part 1 Host Christoph Vratz (WDR 3, Deutschlandfunk) talks to Cristian Măcelaru (conductor), Simon Halsey (choir director) and Markus Roentgen (theologian and musicologist) about Edward Elgar's "The Dream of Gerontius" Part 2 Singing with Simon Halsey - The renowned British choir director and Elgar expert sings excerpts from the oratorio with interested choral singers at the piano/organ: George Warren We would be delighted if you attended both parts of the event, but you can also only attend the first or second part (from 8 p.m.), just as you like.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic/Domingo Hindoyan

A Russian in exile, an Englishman in despair, and a Puerto Rican take on fantastical fandangoes: a welcome visit from the RLPO under its charismatic Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan.

Konzert für Alle #9

Himmel & Hölle – The Dream of Gerontius

While rarely performed in Germany, Edward Elgar's oratorio "The Dream of Gerontius" follows Handel's "Messiah" and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" in popularity in England. This masterpiece reveals the true side of the English romanticist, known mainly for the "Pomp and Circumstance" marches. The monumental work follows a soul's journey to heaven after death, guided by a guardian angel, until it beholds God's glory.

Silesian String Quartet / British Fantasy on the 110th anniversary of the birth of Andrzej Panufnik

“Music is the expression of emotions and feelings. I hold as my ideal a piece in which poetic content is combined with excellence of musical craftmanship. Poetry alone does not determine the musical value of a piece, just as craftmanship alone risks falling into a pitfall of using worn-out formulas. Enduring beauty is only born from a balance of both” Andrzej Panufnik (1952) Silesian String Quartet – 45 years of experience, more than 150 first performances of chamber works, thousands of concerts in the world's most famous concert halls, more than 60 albums, more than 20 nominations, 10 ‘Fryderyk’ statuettes and the most important – the ‘musical Oscar’, i.e., the Gramophone Classical Music Award. The ensemble specialises in the discovery, promotion and recording of Polish music and is famous for its first performances under the guidance of composers. Ditching the traditional hierarchical model of performing music, the ensemble emphasises exchange and collaboration with other musicians. This season, the artists will introduce the work of Sir Andrzej Panufnik on the 110th anniversary of the birth of the only Polish composer to be awarded a title of nobility by Queen Elizabeth II. The programme will be complemented by works by native British composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar, whose String Quartet in E minor, op. 83 is an example of late Romantic aesthetics, demonstrating the composer's ability to combine deep lyricism with expressive formal structure. Hommage à Chopin is one of Andrzej Panufnik's most treasured pieces, demonstrating his deep fascination with the work of the great Polish composer. The original version of this musical homage was for solo piano. Later, Panufnik made arrangements for various instrumental ensembles, including flute and string quintet. The piece contains nuanced references to Chopin's style, both in harmony and melody. Panufnik employs variation techniques, developing the theme to draw on the Romantic tradition while introducing modern rhythmic and harmonic elements. [Alexandra Kozowicz]Concert duration (intermission included): approximately 110 minutes

Himmel und Hölle - The Dream of Gerontius + Livestream

While rarely performed in Germany, Edward Elgar's oratorio "The Dream of Gerontius" follows Handel's "Messiah" and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" in popularity in England. This masterpiece reveals the true essence of the English romanticist, known in Germany for the "Pomp and Circumstance" marches. The oratorio follows a soul's journey to Heaven, from death to angelic encounters, culminating in a vision of God's glory.

Stipendiat*innenkonzert der Essener Philharmoniker

Once a season, scholarship holders of the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra Academy demonstrate their skills in a chamber concert. The academy, founded in 1999, prepares up to eight talented musicians annually for top orchestras. This includes participation in opera, ballet, and symphony concerts. Most graduates secure permanent positions in major orchestras, some with the Essen Philharmonic.

VOCES8 Love Endureth. Lieder von Liebe und Abschied

VOCES8, renowned for their perfect blend of flawless execution and lively stage presence, return to Heidelberg. Their unique appeal stems from their captivating sound and innovative fusion of old and new, sacred and secular music. Artistic director Barnaby Smith aims for concerts that evoke both laughter and tears. This performance explores love, loss, and eternity, promising an emotional journey.

Nicholas Carter & MultiPiano

Symphonic Mob – Berlins größtes Spontanorchester

How about making music together with orchestra professionals? How about experiencing the euphoria that flows through you when hundreds of people get together to make music for everyone as a joint endeavour? Anyone who’d like to can become part of the ›Symphonic Mob‹. Anyone who plays an instrument or likes to sing can participate in Berlin’s largest spontaneous orchestra – no matter whether in everyday life you play in an amateur orchestra or a big band, in a brass band, or you sing in a choir or just at home. So that as many people as possible can take part, there will be – as in the past – simplified parts you can download, in addition to the original sheet music; joint rehearsals with DSO musicians ensure optimum preparation for the big day. The conductor Catherine Larsen-Maguire will head up the eleventh ›Symphonic Mob‹. The German Youth Choir will also join in for the very first time.

Concertgebouworkest Young, Elim Chan & Julia Hagen

The SummerConcerts powered by VriendenLoterij presents two months of wonderful concerts, from classical to jazz and from pop to film music. Top musicians from the Netherlands and around the world bring you all your favourite classical pieces, as well as video game music and hits from Broadway musicals.We also present a host of young talent in our summer concerts, including youth orchestras from Greece, Australia and Cuba, and top young classical soloists. After many of the concerts, we offer a meet-and-greet with the artists in an informal setting, or an afterparty with DJ in the Entrance Hall. In one of the world’s finest concert halls, there’s something for everyone this summer at The Concertgebouw!

Sinfonia Leipzig / Knut Andreas

Whether the rousing and energetic Boléro by Maurice Ravel, the Suite from the opera »Carmen« or the Fire Dance by Manuel de Falla: the Sinfonia Leipzig under the direction of Knut Andreas travels to spain with wonderful music.

7th Subscription Concert

7th Subscription Concert

4th Soirée