Deutsche Philharmonie Berlin / Igor Budinstein

Junge Deutsche Philharmonie | Jonathan Nott

The Young German Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary! Founded in 1974, this talent factory for aspiring orchestral musicians regularly collaborates with top conductors and soloists, including Jonathan Nott, their Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Advisor. With this Mahler expert, the orchestra is celebrating its anniversary with Mahler's breathtaking 7th Symphony, a multifaceted work full of funeral march thoughts, bizarre waltz spookiness, jubilant fanfares, cowbells, and folk song elements in the two "Nachtmusik" movements.

PUBLIC DRESS REHEARSAL OF THE JUNGE DEUTSCHE PHILHARMONIE

Even though the Bamberg Symphony is on tour in Asia, our followers will still be able to get their fix of classical music! You will have the chance to hear our sponsored orchestra, the Young German Philharmonic/Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, play in Bamberg in a public dress rehearsal as part of their spring work schedule.

The Junge Deutsche Philharmonie turns 50!

Happy Birthday, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie! Germany’s best music students have been playing together in this orchestra for 50 years – in preparation for a career in a professional orchestra. What characterises its members? A high level of technical proficiency, an irrepressible desire to make music together, and a passion for the music of our time. These qualities are also reflected in this programme – with the spherical tones of Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres), the labyrinthine sound structures of Luciano Berio's Sinfonia for eight voices and orchestra and the rhythmic energy of Igor Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps. Roderick Cox conducts.

Deutsches Philharmonie-Orchester Berlin

A very unique musical dawn of spring awaits the audience with a singular selection of famous modern and romantic orchestral pieces under the direction of Igor Budinstein. A rousing programme full of the energy of Ravel’s »Bolero!« and works by Romantics such as Debussy and Bizet.

Junge Deutsche Philharmonie / RIAS Kammerchor / Roderick Cox

The premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet »Le sacre du printemps« in Paris in 1913 was one of the biggest scandals in music history: the radically modern choreography and music prompted the audience to heckle, whistle and even start scuffles. But today, »The Rite of Spring« regularly receives standing ovations for its gripping rhythms and dramatic intensity. As Germany’s national orchestra of music college students, the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie under the baton of Roderick Cox has the talent and youthful vigour to perform Stravinsky’s masterpiece to perfection. »Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)« by US composer Missy Mazzoli orbits like a planet in the solar system. Compound rhythms and stylised Baroque ornaments become intertwining passages. »The piece is stirring and agitated at the same time,« says the composer. While »Sinfonia« in Mazolli’s title refers to the Baroque elements in the score, for Luciano Berio, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2025, it refers to the origin of the word – harmony. In Berio’s »Sinfonia« for orchestra and eight voices, the orchestra joins forces with the renowned voices of the RIAS Kammerchor to present exciting music full of quotes from Samuel Beckett to Gustav Mahler.

Neue Philharmonie Hamburg

The Neue Philharmonie Hamburg was founded in 2003 and is made up of freelance professional musicians from all over the world. Its artistic portfolio focuses on symphonic music from the Baroque to the Modern periods. In addition, the Neue Philharmonie Hamburg also regularly appears in smaller formations, such as chamber music ensembles.

Neue Philharmonie Hamburg

The Neue Philharmonie Hamburg was founded in 2003 and is made up of freelance professional musicians from all over the world. Its artistic portfolio focuses on symphonic music from the Baroque to the Modern periods. In addition, the Neue Philharmonie Hamburg also regularly appears in smaller formations, such as chamber music ensembles.

Igor Levit

Igor Levit is one of the most significant pianists of his generation (born in 1987) and regularly performs on all the major stages worldwide. He has appeared at Konserthuset Stockholm on several occasions, including during the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, when he performed all of Beethoven's piano sonatas in a series of live-streamed concerts (due to the pandemic).Beethoven is also featured on the program for this concert: the third symphony – Eroica – in Franz Liszt's famous arrangement. The program as a whole consists of what is often referred to as the three great Bs of classical music history: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and begins with Bach's chromatic fantasy and fugue. It was acclaimed and regarded as a masterpiece even during Bach's lifetime, filled with advanced voice leading and lightning-fast runs.Between Bach and Beethoven, Levit has placed Brahms' atmospheric and youthfully explosive ballades; he was only 21 years old when he wrote them. They are designed as short musical narratives. We know that the first one is based on an old Scottish ballad about Edward, who returns home with blood on his sword. The atmosphere is dark and ominous. However, no source material for the other three has been preserved.

Igor Levit

Every pianist and soloist takes a risk with Franz Liszt's transcription of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. Few have dared to tackle this pianistic chunk, which demands everything at once: power, virtuosity, a sense of the piece's architecture, and a keen ear for detail. Igor Levit takes on this task. Liszt has long been a favorite in his repertoire. For a TV documentary, he already traced the composer's footsteps around 15 years ago. Levit's program for the Essen Philharmonic is brilliant: First, he takes us back to the starting point of all romantic piano virtuosity, Bach's "Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue".

Igor Levit