Opening Concert in Bamberg

Season opening in Bamberg

»This must be love!« These words were heard at the joyous announcement that the journey with Jakub Hrůša will continue for several more wonderful years. And he sums it up perfectly, because our Chief Conductor is completely happy with his »friendly and harmonious home«: he loves the city Bamberg, the amicable atmosphere in the orchestra and the whole team behind the scenes, the magnificent hall and the enthusiastic audiences – who return his love in such a way that the concerts with him have been constantly sold out for years. And since fate has been particularly kind to this close relationship since 2016, Jakub Hrůša has fittingly included the Beethoven symphony on the programme for our season opener, with its world-famous tones revolving around the much-invoked Fatum – and about which it was said early on that it is a »living image of great passion«. This symphonic blockbuster is combined with favourites from the heart of our Chief Conductor: With compositions from his and our Bohemian homeland, which he regularly familiarises us with on our journey together. And in doing so, we are always moving on to lesser-known repertoire. Dvořák's Violin Concerto, for example, is not heard very often, even though it is in no way inferior in quality to the great Romantic concertos of his colleagues: it is »original, full of cantilenas and written for accomplished violinists« – including Isabelle Faust, whose wish it was to play the solo part with us one day. However, before that, we should first congratulate this year's birthday boy, Smetana: With his fascinating tone poem »Wallenstein's Camp«, which for Jakub Hrůša is a »fantastic opener« for concerts – which makes the piece a perfect opening for the new season themed »What we love«.

Liedstadt Hamburg – Opening Concert

Songs connect people and tell stories. They provide insights into special moments along lifelines and into every conceivable human relationship. Songs in as many forms as possible are the focus of the new »Liedstadt Hamburg« festival, which starts on 3 October 2024. In the afternoon, a wide variety of Liedstadt artists will be out and about in Hamburg, performing 50 pop-up concerts. The opening concert at NDR’s Rolf-Liebermann-Studio will present a selection of the artists on stage and live on NDR Kultur. They combine their songs with their own stories, feelings and experiences. Classical piano songs can be heard alongside Syrian music, contemporary songs and »songs without words«. An evening that tells stories with songs and about songs.

Concert in the Musikverein

VIDEO GAMES IN CONCERT

Even if you have never played Tetris, you will most likely be familiar with the Russian folk song »Korobeiniki«, that served as soundtrack for the first video game with cult status and is indelibly linked to it. And since the success of such epic games as »Fortnite«, »Resident Evil« and »Horizon« at the very latest, it has become clear that video game music transcends the framework for which it was created. Like the soundtrack to famous films, the characteristic melodies are often familiar even to those who have never played the respective game. Under the baton of Eímear Noone, the Bamberg Symphony is now taking the video game scores from well-known titles to the Bamberg concert stage. The Irish composer and conductor has touched over 100 million people worldwide with her music for the online role-playing game »World of Warcraft«. She not only won the Hollywood Music in Media Award with her compositions, but also received five nominations for the Annual Game Music Awards 2014. Together with singer Aisling McGlynn, the orchestra will take the audience into strange new worlds, fusing the sound of a classical symphony orchestra with the sound of electric guitar, bass and drums. A journey through magical forests, post-apocalyptic civilisations and treacherous labyrinths – not only video game lovers will get their money’s worth on this special concert evening.

Porgy and Bess in Concert

The Concertgebouw’s famous Main Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world, well-known for its exceptional acoustics and special atmosphere. In the Main Hall, you will feel history. Here, Gustav Mahler conducted his own compositions, as did Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky. Sergei Rachmaninoff played his own piano concertos in the Main Hall. This is also where musicians such as Leonard Bernstein, Vladimir Horowitz and Yehudi Menuhin gave legendary performances. Right up to now, the Main Hall offers a stage to the world’s best orchestras and musicians. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Main Hall for yourself!

Concert in the Wiener Konzerthaus

NOSPR concert at Klarafestival in Brussels

Free Lunchtime Concert: Composer in Residence

For many years now, Lunchtime Concerts have been held in the Main Hall and the Recital Hall. The concerts range from public rehearsals by the Concertgebouworkest, to chamber music performances by young up-and-coming artists.For Lunchtime Concerts you will require a free ticket, which you can buy online. Doors to the concert hall open about 30 minutes before the Lunchtime Concert starts.We offer a broad range of music: the majority of concerts include classical music, but you can sometimes hear more modern repertoire. The concert programme is announced one week in advance on our website. The concerts last thirty minutes and are free of charge. Visitors are advised that these concerts are suitable for children from six years old.

Video Games in Concert with Eímear Noone

The SummerConcerts powered by VriendenLoterij present two months of wonderful concerts, from classical to jazz and from pop music to film scores. Top musicians from the Netherlands and around the world bring you all your favourite classical pieces, as well as tributes to Leonard Cohen and The Beatles, and all your favourite film music.We also present a host of young talent in our summer concerts, including youth orchestras from South Africa and Turkey, 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!

Closing Concert in the 2024/2025 Season

Krzysztof Urbański, photo: Grzesiek Mart Ludwig van Beethoven was regarded as a revolutionary (but also an eccentric) in his time, while for subsequent generations he became the epitome of the Classical (and, for many, of what was finest in music). The turbulent reception history of his monumental Symphony No. 9 in D minor proves that the significance of a work is never defined once and for all. It has fascinated not only musicians and listeners with different tastes, but also representatives of different political options and adherents of extreme ideologies. Along the way, it has encountered both nationalism and hope-giving universalism. Today, one of the themes of the Symphony’s finale, considered by some of Beethoven’s contemporaries to be a sign of extravagance, is one of the most recognisable melodies in Western musical culture and is known as the anthem of the European Union.