Barockes zur Weihnacht

Konzert zur Todesstunde

Konzert zur Saisoneröffnung

Joana Mallwitz leads the Konzerthausorchester Berlin into her second season as Chief Conductor with a programme of dance music, which for her is ‘perfect’ for the opening of the season. What's more, our new Artist in Residence Sheku Kanneh-Mason is making his first appearance - with Antonín Dvorak's Cello Concerto, which ‘adds a particularly festive element thanks to its familiarity and elegance,’ says our chief conductor. ‘Apart from that, it goes very well with John Adams’ ‘The Chairman Dances’ and Sergei Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances: We have three composers from three eras who went to America and dealt with issues of exile, flight and home. While abroad, they incorporated musical elements from their homeland into their works.’ We are very much looking forward to starting a 2024/25 season with you that is as full of musical energy and excitement as this opening!

Chor zur Welt

People from more than 15 countries sing in the Chor zur Welt. They all share a curiosity for the music of other cultures and all enjoy experimenting with their own voices. Under the direction of Jörg Mall, the choir rehearses clearly conceived concert programmes, which are then performed on stage at the Elbphilharmonie and KörberHaus. Together with the singer, songwriter and producer Ramadu from Zimbabwe, the choir is now exploring the traditional a capella music of southern Africa and familiarising itself with the Bantu languages of Ndbele and Xhosa. Choir members and the audience can expect a variety songs that are stylistically very different, all in response to the breathtaking nature and volatile history of the countries of Southern Africa. The stylistic spectrum ranges from the powerful »Mbube« (Zulu for »Lion«), which rose to international fame thanks to Walt Disney’s »The Lion King«, to the militant »Chimurenga«, where the musicians opposed the oppression of the British colonial rulers and campaigned for freedom, independence, social justice and respect for human rights, through to the soft and harmonious »Isicathamiya«. »Ubuntu« – humanity – is the title of the programme, where the desire for freedom comes together in the traditional texts with an appeal for global justice and peaceful coexistence. Ramadu is the stage name of Dumisani Moyo. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he lived in Vienna for many years, where he founded the record label 10th District Music. With a mix of traditional folk music from southern Africa and modern pop sounds, he brought the music of his homeland to a worldwide audience. His various solo and ensemble projects like the »Insingizi« trio have garnered rapturous receptions. The studio attached to his record label has since relocated to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where he devotes his efforts to promoting the local art scene. With some great triumphs along the way: NOBUNTU, Zimbabwe‘s first female vocal group, is just one success story that owes its genesis to him.

Chor zur Welt

Roughly 75 singers from 23 cultures regularly come together in the Chor zur Welt (English: World Choir) to sing together. The Elbphilharmonie’s ensemble has already achieved a very broad range of projects. This time, the choir makes a journey around the world and pays a musical visit to the native countries of its singers. »I only rarely speak Arabic in everyday life – it is a genuine sense of home when I can sing in my mother tongue here!« a Syrian choir member reveals. Along with this sense of home comes curiosity about other cultures and the social experience – because singing connects us! So, the music likewise serves as the access, platform and nourishment for the intercultural exchange which shaped the profile of the choir from the start. The Chor zur Welt is conducted by Jörg Mall, who has managed the choir since it was founded in 2016 as the Syrian/German project choir. However, the entire choir is involved in suggesting pieces when arranging its programmes – and also the expertise of everyone is sought after for the translation and practice of the correct pronunciation in the many different languages.

Chor zur Welt

Usually, the roughly 60 singers from more than 15 countries in the Chor zur Welt sing a diverse programme with music from all the home regions of its members. But this time, fittingly for the focal point of the 2024/25 season, Brazil is the focus of the Elbphilharmonie’s participatory ensemble. More specifically, »música popular brasileira« (popular Brazilian music), »MPB« for short and also affectionately referred to as »nossa música« (our music) by Brazilians. Heard and loved across all generations and communities, »MPB« combines many Brazilian traditions with pop music. Whether influences from rock, reggae, samba, bossa nova or from the music of Afro-Brazilian culture: everything from the cultural melting pot comes together here. This music is intoxicating, spreads a good mood and lets no one sit still – least of all the choir itself.

Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine

It takes some confidence to dedicate a sacred work personally to the Pope. But Claudio Monteverdi was keen to reach as large an audience as possible when he published his »Vespro della Beata Vergine« in 1610. With the work, he sought to express all the facets of his compositional prowess, and the »Vespers for the Blessed Virgin« remains one of the greatest works of sacred music to this day. In 13 movements, Monteverdi demonstrates his mastery and his ability to integrate all the contrasting stylistic influences of his time into one diverse whole. The six-strong Flemish instrumental ensemble Les Cornets Noirs specialises in the music of Monteverdi’s time. Together with the singers of the Delectus Cantionum ensemble, they present a historically informed and musically expressive performance of this legendary work.

Originalklang Ensemble Diderot with French baroque music

The Ensemble Diderot explores the diverse beauties of baroque chamber music. For this concert, the French trio sonata takes centre stage. These are musical treasures full of dance – like vigour and melodic elegance, in which two melodic voices are intertwined with a bass line. Great composers like François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau focused on the genre, but lesser-known names can also be discovered on this programme – such as that of Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, who was patronised by King Louis XIV and was considered a “miracle of the century” during her lifetime.

Pas de deux

So reizvoll ein Solokonzert auch ist – ist nicht ein Doppelkonzert quasi zweimal so interessant? Zwei Solisten, die sich die Bälle zuspielen, die wetteifern, sich überbieten, die zum Pas de deux sich zusammenfinden? An diesem Abend sind zwei einfach doppelt gut: die Solisten des hr-Sinfonieorchesters. Drei Konzerte für zwei Soloinstrumente stehen auf dem Programm, komponiert vom barocken Dreigestirn Bach, Telemann und Vivaldi. Unter seinen rund 50 Concerti für zwei Instrumente hat Vivaldi nur eines für zwei Trompeten gesetzt, ein Solitär im so umfangreichen Werkverzeichnis des virtuosen Venezianers. Auch Bachs Doppelkonzert BWV 1043 blieb ein Einzelstück – wer für zwei schreibt, schreibt exklusiv. Leiten wird den Abend der britische Cembalist und Dirigent Jonathan Cohen, der sich nicht nur mit seinem eigenen Ensemble Arcangelo einen Namen gemacht. Mit der Academy of Ancient Music ging er ebenso auf Tournee wie mit William Christies Ensemble Les Arts Florissants, das ihn mittlerweile zum Associate Conductor berufen hat. Franz Schuberts Mozart-nahe 5. Sinfonie, das wohl reifste unter seinen frühen sinfonischen Werken, wird dabei den reizvollen Schlusspunkt bilden in diesem Barock+-Programm.Konzertdauer: ca. 105 Minuten – inklusive Pause

Pas de deux

So reizvoll ein Solokonzert auch ist – ist nicht ein Doppelkonzert quasi zweimal so interessant? Zwei Solisten, die sich die Bälle zuspielen, die wetteifern, sich überbieten, die zum Pas de deux sich zusammenfinden? An diesem Abend sind zwei einfach doppelt gut: die Solisten des hr-Sinfonieorchesters. Drei Konzerte für zwei Soloinstrumente stehen auf dem Programm, komponiert vom barocken Dreigestirn Bach, Telemann und Vivaldi. Unter seinen rund 50 Concerti für zwei Instrumente hat Vivaldi nur eines für zwei Trompeten gesetzt, ein Solitär im so umfangreichen Werkverzeichnis des virtuosen Venezianers. Auch Bachs Doppelkonzert BWV 1043 blieb ein Einzelstück – wer für zwei schreibt, schreibt exklusiv. Leiten wird den Abend der britische Cembalist und Dirigent Jonathan Cohen, der sich nicht nur mit seinem eigenen Ensemble Arcangelo einen Namen gemacht. Mit der Academy of Ancient Music ging er ebenso auf Tournee wie mit William Christies Ensemble Les Arts Florissants, das ihn mittlerweile zum Associate Conductor berufen hat. Franz Schuberts Mozart-nahe 5. Sinfonie, das wohl reifste unter seinen frühen sinfonischen Werken, wird dabei den reizvollen Schlusspunkt bilden in diesem Barock+-Programm.Konzertdauer: ca. 105 Minuten – inklusive Pause