Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra / Volodymyr Syvokhip

El Sistema National Orchestra

El Sistema National Orchestra is a youth orchestra with members ranging in age from 11 to 19 years old, from arts schools and El Sistema programmes throughout Sweden. This autumn concert is traditionally the conclusion of a music camp held in Södertälje and Stockholm. The orchestra has now grown to over 60 members, supported by professional musicians from, among other ensembles, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. “Our vision is to show through the orchestra how far El Sistema in Sweden has come,” says Ron Davis Alvarez, conductor of the El Sistema National Orchestra. El Sistema is a model for choral and orchestral training that was developed in Venezuela. It is based on the vision of music’s capacity to help people grow socially, and to strengthen community as well as children and young people’s self-confidence and sense of identity. In Sweden, El Sistema has been present as an educational programme since 2009 and has continuously grown ever since.

National Youth Jazz Orchestra

Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra / İlyun Bürkev / Cem Mansur

Istanbul-born pianist İlyun Bürkev is only 16 years old and already a real star in her home country. She is now studying at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and has won numerous prizes at international competitions, most recently at »Jeune Chopin« in Switzerland. Together with the most important youth orchestra from her home town, the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, she will perform Edvard Grieg’s sonorous and captivating piano concerto at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. The orchestra has already performed with greats such as Murray Perahia and Alice Sara Ott and plays in major concert halls such as the Vienna and Berlin Konzerthaus – »technically absolutely convincing«, according to the Tagesspiegel. In addition to Ludwig van Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony and Benjamin Britten’s »Four Sea Interludes«, which are infused with English East Coast sea spray, the young Istanbul orchestra will also be performing a work by Turkish composer Cem Esen. In keeping with the title »Sarcasm«, the musicians poke fun at themselves and the traditional rules – all in the midst of a finely orchestrated and dazzlingly colourful riot of sound that is simply great fun!

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

A historical photo shows 7-year-old Martha Argerich playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1. Her exceptional talent continues to shine decades into her world career. She recently collaborated with Lahav Shani, conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Beethoven's piano concertos. At the Albert Concerts, they will perform Mussorgsky's "Dawn on the Moskva River", Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, and Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Julia Fischer, acclaimed violinist and professor, joins conductor Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a concert featuring Dvořák's "Carnival Overture," Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, and Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. Fischer's performance of the Tchaikovsky concerto has been praised for its freshness and emotional depth. The Bartók piece, written during his exile in New York, is a unique work showcasing the entire orchestra.

Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra

The Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Christoph Gedschold, presents a profound programme: Haydn’s »Farewell Symphony« and Wagner’s »Prelude« and »Liebestod« from »Tristan und Isolde« reveal a close relationship in terms of content, as death and farewell are fundamentally related. Schumann’s 2nd Symphony is diametrically opposed to this, even though this work was composed during a period of deep crisis in the composer’s life.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Sibelius' Violin Concerto and Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, featuring soloist Julia Fischer and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, promise an intense and highly virtuosic performance. Fischer emphasizes the natural element in Sibelius' concerto, which is among her favorites. Bartók's concerto, known for its strong strings and daring wind passages, also stands out for its intense sound.

Romantic programme by the Korean National Symphony Orchestra

It will be the first time the Korean National Symphony Orchestra will perform in Amsterdam. It will offer the Dutch audience the opportunity to come together and to celebrate National Foundation Day. In South-Korea this day is celebrated with huge fireworks displays throughout the country. In Seoul, it takes place in Yeouido Han River Park and is very popular. The orchestra will bring world famous soloists from South-Korea.Bellini's aria Casta diva is one of the three well known, and virtuoso arias that star soprano Sumi Jo will perform. The long flowing lines of the melody require incredible control and expressive nuance. Tonight's instrumental repertoire also includes brilliant melodies, as in the Overture to Mozart's Zauberflöte and in Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations for cello and orchestra, performed by the eighteen-year-old cello virtuoso Jaemin Han. Schumann's Fourth Symphony has a dramatic structure, in which melody lines keep returning, but played by different instruments. Slowly, a story unfolds. The opening movement sets a dramatic tone with its dark and brooding themes, while the following movements explore a range of emotions, from the lyrical Romanza to the spirited and energetic Scherzo. Conductor David Reiland is an expert in this field, as he serves as the Schumann Guest of the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra.

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano

Bringing Gustav Mahler’s »Das Lied von der Erde« to the stage always takes us on a path down into the depths of late-Romantic turn-of-the-century aesthetics. Of course it is poetry that forms the foundation of the work – albeit thoroughly dubious due to the fact that the words have been translated back and forth so many times from the Old Chinese. So the six songs, the last of which is by far the most weighty, therefore do indeed need to be read primarily in terms of the music and regarded as Mahler’s unofficial Ninth Symphony, as it were. He did allude himself to this way of looking at the work – and also stressed that »Das Lied von der Erde« was »probably the most personal thing ... I have done so far.«