Landesjugendorchester Hamburg

Landesjugendorchester Hamburg

The Landesjugendorchester Hamburg (LJO Hamburg) has been an integral part of the young music scene for over 55 years as the select orchestra of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The patron of the ensemble is the First Mayor, Dr Peter Tschentscher. In its working phases, the symphony orchestra devotes itself to major works of orchestral literature as well as programmes with smaller ensembles or contemporary works. This year’s autumn concert under the direction of Johannes Witt will feature the work »Aufbruch«, composed in 1986 by Detlev Glanert especially for the LJO Hamburg (then still the Hamburg Youth Orchestra). Glanert, who is now in demand all over the world and was himself a member of the youth orchestra at the time, composed the piece practically to fit the orchestra at the time. The Hamburger Abendblatt described the work after the premiere with the words: »Glanert’s stylistically ›forward‹ music is full of eruptive and lyrical ideas, organically developed in context and skilfully orchestrated.« Directly afterwards, the programme features Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony, a blockbuster that the Russian composer composed in 1937 under pressure from the Stalin regime. Shortly beforehand, he had fallen out of favour with his opera Lady Mcbeth of Mtsensk« due to his overly progressive compositional technique and now had to adapt outwardly. Whether grotesque ländler, furiously noisy march or mournful themes – Shostakovich created a parody of the triumphalism of the time, which the audience at the premiere certai»nly recognised, while the party leaders celebrated the return of the prodigal son with this symphony. A fallacy, as can also be seen from the musical quotations used in the symphony. Although Shostakovich was deeply connected to the Russian people and their culture, his progressive ideas under Stalinism meant that he himself always had to fear for his life and that of his family – he subtly expressed his demand for humanity and dignity through his music. The LJO Hamburg is organised by the Landesmusikrat in der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg e. V. and is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Media.

Landesjugendorchester Hamburg / Johannes Witt

The Landesjugendorchester Hamburg has been an integral part of the young music scene for over 55 years as the select orchestra of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. At this year’s summer concert, around 80 talented young people aged between 14 and 25 will perform three romantic works with great enthusiasm.

Albert-Schweitzer-Jugendorchester / Mädchenchor Hamburg

A special highlight of the 2024/25 anniversary season to mark the 50th anniversary of the Albert Schweitzer Youth Orchestra is the »ASJ meets girls’ choir« concert. The Hamburg Girls’ Choir, one of Germany’s leading youth choirs, will be a guest at the Elbphilharmonie with the Albert Schweitzer Youth Orchestra. In addition to an a cappella part of the choir, in which choral music from various centuries and genres will be performed, the »Trois Nocturnes« by Claude Debussy for female choir and orchestra will take centre stage. Debussy wrote a letter to the famous violinist Eugène Ysaÿe in September 1894. In it, he mentioned the planned composition of three Nocturnes for violin and orchestra. Debussy announced different orchestration for the individual movements and wanted to achieve variations in tone colour in this way, similar to the way a painter creates a »study in grey«, for example. After he once again hinted in a letter in 1894 that the pieces were finished and that Ysaÿe could perform them, this was not to be the case. The final version, which was completed in 1899, did not include a solo violin at all. The Nocturnes were premièred in Paris in 1900. However, only the first two movements were performed due to the lack of a female choir, which only sings in the third nocturne. This unusual instrumentation alone meant that the »Trois Nocturnes« were often performed incompletely or not at all. On the occasion of the anniversary of the Albert Schweitzer Youth Orchestra, the work »Elegie an die Zeit« for women’s choir and orchestra was composed in autumn 2024 by Ettore Prandi, born in Milan and based in Hamburg. It is an exploration of time, a parameter that is so fundamental to all existence. In this way, an arc is created, from the transience of time in »Der Rosenkavalier« to Gerd Heinze’s poem »Wieviel Uhr«, on which »Elegie an die Zeit« is based. The work is to be understood as a short journey through elegiac, mournful and hopeful thoughts about the passing of time and will be performed for the first time at this concert. In the hit lists of classical music, »The Vltava« by Smetana always occupies one of the top places. Geographically speaking, the sources of the Vltava and Hamburg are connected by this river, which flows into the Elbe between Prague and Dresden. In the programme of the second part of the concert, this route leads from the »Vltava« via a stopover to Dresden. Richard Strauss’ opera »Der Rosenkavalier« was performed there for the very first time in 1911. The two works logically meet at their destination, the Elbphilharmonie. A geographical relationship that leads to a musical unity.

Kammersinfonie Hamburg

The Kammersinfonie Hamburg is playing a benefit concert on the eve of International Women’s Day in aid of organisations in Hamburg that look after women and girls who suffer or have suffered from physical and psychological violence and discrimination. The works performed are intended to highlight examples of female composers who have not had it easy in their lives as composers. In addition, voices will be heard that illustrate the discriminatory attitude of male composer colleagues.

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Mit einem Programm rund um Sofia Gubaidulinas mystisches kompositorisches Schaffen gastiert das hr-Sinfonieorchester im Anschluss an das Frankfurter Konzert auch in der Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. Der Glaube ist das zentrale Thema im Leben und in der Musik Gubaidulinas, die sich 1970 russisch-orthodox taufen ließ. Ihre Verbundenheit mit dem göttlichen Kosmos prägt ihr gesamtes Schaffen und offenbart sich in zahlreichen religiös inspirierten Werktiteln. So auch in »Der Zorn Gottes«, ihrem erst 2022 uraufgeführten »grandios apokalyptischen Orchesterwerk« (Süddeutsche Zeitung). Zuvor widmet sich die lettische Violinistin Baiba Skride Gubaidulinas 3. Violinkonzert »Dialog: Ich und Du«, das vom gleichnamigen Buch Martin Bubers aus dem Jahr 1923 inspiriert wurde. Unter der Leitung des Franzosen Maxime Pascal treten die beiden Kompositionen Gubaidulinas dabei in Beziehung zu Olivier Messiaens leuchtendem Orchesterwerk »L’Ascension« über die Himmelfahrt Christi und zur kompositorischen Strenge der Sinfonie in drei Sätzen von Igor Strawinsky.

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Alain Altinoglu and the hr-Symphony Orchestra will perform in Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie with a French repertoire. The program includes Henri Dutilleux's 2nd Symphony, Claude Debussy's "Ariettes oubliées", and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade". Mezzo-soprano Ambroisine Bré joins as soloist.

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.

Gastspiel in Hamburg