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January 20, 2025

Symphoniker Hamburg / Sylvain Cambreling

Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Symphoniker Hamburg, Sylvain Cambreling (Conductor)

Claude Debussy's "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" is his most popular and first significant symphonic work. Its innovative form and synthesis of nature and fantasy make it a key work of its era. Based on a poem by Stéphane Mallarmé, it depicts a faun awakening and recalling a flirtation with two nymphs. Debussy also composed "La Mer," evocative symphonic sketches inspired by the sea, reflecting his love for it and perhaps alluding to deeper metaphorical meanings of flowing and time.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 19, 2025

Danish National Symphony Orchestra / Khatia Buniatishvili / Fabio Luisi

Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Khatia Buniatishvili (Piano), Fabio Luisi (Conductor)

Glamorous appearance, outstanding talent, deep artistic seriousness: star pianist Khatia Buniatishvili effortlessly combines all of these facets – and delights audiences all over the world. With Sergei Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto, she brings a work to the stage at her ProArte concert that is one of the most demanding in the Romantic piano literature. Deep emotion, dramatic outbursts, incredible virtuoso speed: »Rach 2« demands everything from its interpreters. No problem for Khatia Buniatishvili: she masters the technical and emotional demands of this Romantic masterpiece with ease. She is supported by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its chief conductor Fabio Luisi – who celebrates nothing less than life itself in the second half of the concert with Carl Nielsen’s enchanting Fourth Symphony – subtitled »The Inextinguishable«.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Sinfonieorchester Eppendorf / Emiliano Ramniceanu / Thilo Jaques

Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 11:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Sinfonieorchester Eppendorf, Emiliano Ramniceanu (Piano), Thilo Jaques (Conductor)

With this year’s concert in the Grand Hall of Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, the Eppendorf Sinfonieorchester joins in slightly belatedly with the celebrations to mark Anton Bruckner’s 200th birthday. The programme features his Third Symphony in D minor under the baton of Hamburg conductor Thilo Jaques. The matinée will begin with the Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Eppendorf Symphony Orchestra is delighted to be working with the fantastic pianist Emiliano Ramniceanu again after the great success of Edvard Grieg’s piano concerto.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 18, 2025

Albert-Schweitzer-Jugendorchester / Mädchenchor Hamburg

Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 11:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Albert Schweitzer Jugendorchester, Mädchenchor Hamburg, Sebastian Beckedorf (Director), Gesa Werhahn (Chorus Director)

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.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 13, 2025

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano

Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Karen Cargill (Mezzo-Soprano), Stuart Skelton (Tenor), Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Piano), Kent Nagano (Conductor)

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.«

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 12, 2025

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Jonathan Bloxham

Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 18:30

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester

Semyon Bychkov very much regrets having to withdraw from the concerts due to a planned hip operation. Jonathan Bloxham, whose concerts in September 2023 with works by Britten and Mendelssohn may still be remembered by NDR subscribers to the G and H series, will take over as conductor instead. The Briton, currently Music Director of Lucerne Theatre and Chief Conductor of the Northwest German Philharmonic Orchestra, was mentored by none other than Paavo Järvi, has conducted orchestras such as the London Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestra and is a regular guest of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Before embarking on his conducting career, he enjoyed success as a cellist with the Busch Trio. The programme remains unchanged. Subscribers and ticket purchasers will be informed of the change by email.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano

Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 11:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Karen Cargill (Mezzo-Soprano), Stuart Skelton (Tenor), Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Piano), Kent Nagano (Conductor)

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.«

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 11, 2025

Symphoniker Hamburg / Diana Adamyan / Han-Na Chang

Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 18:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Symphoniker Hamburg, Diana Adamyan (Violin), Han-Na Chang (Conductor)

Wherever it is important to convey the impression of enormous speed, of a rapid, glorious final spurt by means of selected music to moving images, the film and advertising industry prefer to use the well-known gallop from the William Tell Overture. However, this unspeakable habit creates a completely false impression of the entire overture to Rossini’s last opera. Who would have thought to expect the wonderful interplay between the solo cellos at the beginning or the refreshing freshness provided by the cor anglais and flute after the great thunderstorm - or indeed the whole breadth of the canvas that Rossini painted for his magnificent overture?

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 10, 2025

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Karen Gomyo / Jonathan Bloxham

Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Karen Gomyo (Violin), Jonathan Bloxham (Conductor)

Semyon Bychkov very much regrets having to withdraw from the concerts due to a planned hip operation. Jonathan Bloxham, whose concerts in September 2023 with works by Britten and Mendelssohn may still be remembered by NDR subscribers to the G and H series, will take over as conductor instead. The Briton, currently Music Director of Lucerne Theatre and Chief Conductor of the Northwest German Philharmonic Orchestra, was mentored by none other than Paavo Järvi, has conducted orchestras such as the London Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestra and is a regular guest of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Before embarking on his conducting career, he enjoyed success as a cellist with the Busch Trio. The programme remains unchanged. Subscribers and ticket purchasers will be informed of the change by email.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 9, 2025

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Karen Gomyo / Jonathan Bloxham

Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Karen Gomyo (Violin), Jonathan Bloxham (Conductor)

Semyon Bychkov very much regrets having to withdraw from the concerts due to a planned hip operation. Jonathan Bloxham, whose concerts in September 2023 with works by Britten and Mendelssohn may still be remembered by NDR subscribers to the G and H series, will take over as conductor instead. The Briton, currently Music Director of Lucerne Theatre and Chief Conductor of the Northwest German Philharmonic Orchestra, was mentored by none other than Paavo Järvi, has conducted orchestras such as the London Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestra and is a regular guest of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Before embarking on his conducting career, he enjoyed success as a cellist with the Busch Trio. The programme remains unchanged. Subscribers and ticket purchasers will be informed of the change by email.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 5, 2025

Tschechische Symphoniker Prag / Coro di Praga

Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 19:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Tschechische Symphoniker Prag, Coro di Praga

In customary tradition, the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the Coro di Praga give a guest performance at the Laeiszhalle to round off the year. On the programme are two of the most monumental works in music history: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Carl Orff’s choral masterpiece »Carmina Burana«, which brought the composer fame overnight in 1937.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

January 1, 2025

Symphoniker Hamburg / Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg / Pablo González

Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 19:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Symphoniker Hamburg, Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg, Mitglieder der EuropaChorAkademie, Jacquelyn Wagner (Soprano), Sophie Harmsen (Mezzo-Soprano), AJ Glueckert (Tenor), Markus Eiche (Bass), Pablo González (Conductor)

Performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the Laeiszhalle at the turn of the year have long since become a popular tradition. The composer made music history with the fourth movement of the work, which was premiered around 200 years ago, as he introduced the use of vocal soloists and choir in a symphony that was unusually large in scope and was to change the genre forever. Schiller’s »Ode to Joy«, set to music in this work, conveys a vision of universal brotherhood and unity among all people that transcends national and cultural boundaries. Beethoven set the words to emotionally powerful music, which Berlioz praised as »unsurpassably great«, Mendelssohn complimented as »the highest a human being can achieve«, Wagner hailed as the »human gospel of the art of the future« and Tchaikovsky elicited the poignant judgement: »Beethoven’s Ninth is not only the greatest, but also the most human of all symphonies.«

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 31, 2024

Symphoniker Hamburg / Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg / Pablo González

Tue, Dec 31, 2024, 16:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the Laeiszhalle at the turn of the year have long since become a popular tradition. The composer made music history with the fourth movement of the work, which was premiered around 200 years ago, as he introduced the use of vocal soloists and choir in a symphony that was unusually large in scope and was to change the genre forever. Schiller’s »Ode to Joy«, set to music in this work, conveys a vision of universal brotherhood and unity among all people that transcends national and cultural boundaries. Beethoven set the words to emotionally powerful music, which Berlioz praised as »unsurpassably great«, Mendelssohn complimented as »the highest a human being can achieve«, Wagner hailed as the »human gospel of the art of the future« and Tchaikovsky elicited the poignant judgement: »Beethoven’s Ninth is not only the greatest, but also the most human of all symphonies.«

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano

Tue, Dec 31, 2024, 11:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Bernd Künkele (Alphorn), Walter Keller (Flute), Clara Bellegarde (Harp), Kent Nagano (Conductor)

Snow, rain, or sunshine? The weather is unpredictable. A shrill wind blows, as if everything wants to reshuffle for a fair start into the new.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 28, 2024

Neue Philharmonie Hamburg

Sat, Dec 28, 2024, 20:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Neue Philharmonie Hamburg, Chor der Neuen Philharmonie Hamburg, Caroline Bruker (Soprano), Miriam Sharoni (Alto), Angel Macias (Tenor), Sönke Tams Freier (Bass), Marco Parisotto (Conductor)

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.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 26, 2024

Tschechische Kammerphilharmonie Prag

Thu, Dec 26, 2024, 20:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Tschechische Kammerphilharmonie Prag, Martin Kos (Violin), Petr Chromčák (Conductor)

Trilling and chirping birds in spring, buzzing and humming bees just before a furious thunderstorm in summer, grape harvest in autumn, biting cold and falling snowflakes in winter – no artistic work describes the four seasons better than Antonio Vivaldi’s cycle of the same name. The Tschechische Kammerphilharmonie Prag will be performing it as well as Handel’s »Water Music« and Haydn’s »Farewell Symphony« in the Grand Hall of the Laeiszhalle.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 17, 2024

Concert in Hamburg

Tue, Dec 17, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg)

Klaus Mäkelä (Conductor), Wiener Philharmoniker (Orchestra)

Info (www.wienerphilharmoniker.at)

December 16, 2024

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Selina Ott / Marie Jacquot

Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Selina Ott (Trumpet), Marie Jacquot (Conductor)

Who is this formidable woman? It is clear that the former professional tennis player Marie Jacquot has been taking the stage by storm for a few years now. Hailing from France, she has been principal guest conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra since the 2023/24 season, and in the 2024/25 season she also takes on the role of chief conductor at the Royal Danish Theatre Copenhagen. Then, in the 2026/27 season, she is set to take up a new post as principal conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra. So we will certainly be hearing a lot more from her, as they say.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 15, 2024

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Jean-Yves Thibaudet / Marek Janowski

Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 18:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Piano), Marek Janowski (Conductor)

A luminary of the German Romantic symphonic repertoire meets a master of elegant French piano playing: Marek Janowski returns to the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra to perform Robert Schumann’s Fourth Symphony and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5 with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Selina Ott / Marie Jacquot

Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 11:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Selina Ott (Trumpet), Marie Jacquot (Conductor)

Who is this formidable woman? It is clear that the former professional tennis player Marie Jacquot has been taking the stage by storm for a few years now. Hailing from France, she has been principal guest conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra since the 2023/24 season, and in the 2024/25 season she also takes on the role of chief conductor at the Royal Danish Theatre Copenhagen. Then, in the 2026/27 season, she is set to take up a new post as principal conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra. So we will certainly be hearing a lot more from her, as they say.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 12, 2024

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Jean-Yves Thibaudet / Marek Janowski

Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Piano), Marek Janowski (Conductor)

A luminary of the German Romantic symphonic repertoire meets a master of elegant French piano playing: Marek Janowski returns to the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra to perform Robert Schumann’s Fourth Symphony and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5 with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Symphoniker Hamburg / Adrian Iliescu / Nil Venditti

Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 19:30

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Symphoniker Hamburg, Adrian Iliescu (Violin), Nil Venditti (Conductor)

The Symphoniker Hamburg’s second VielHarmonie concert will live up to its name, as there will be plenty of harmony to discover. When the composer Caroline Shaw was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2013, she was not only one of only a few women, but also the youngest ever winner at the age of just 30. She originally wrote her »Entr’acte« for quartet as a witty reaction to hearing Haydn’s last completed quartet, but in 2014 she adapted the work for string orchestra in the version heard in this concert. William Walton’s Violin Concerto was premiered in December 1939 by Jascha Heifetz, who had commissioned the work and to whom it is dedicated. The English composer then revised it in 1944. The concerto opens with the slowest movement, the first theme of which is labelled »sognando« (dreaming). In the second movement, presto, a tarantella tells of an experience Walton had while composing in 1938, when he was actually bitten by a tarantula in Ravello, Italy. He himself smilingly calls this passage »rather gaga, I can say, and of dubious decency«. The rondo finale finally brings romantic-expressive expressiveness and brilliant virtuosity to a climax.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 11, 2024

Augustin Hadelich / Mozarteumorchester Salzburg / Andrew Manze

Wed, Dec 11, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Augustin Hadelich (Violin), Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Andrew Manze (Conductor)

A mysterious stranger who only reveals his true identity after some time. Two different personalities between whom an exciting scene unfolds: for Augustin Hadelich, Mozart’s music is stories. »He was a composer who always thought dramatically, in story arcs; he wrote operas – and much of his instrumental music is composed in precisely this kind of language.« In Hadelich’s ProArte concert, audiences can experience twice how these instrumental stories sound live – with Mozart’s Second and Fifth Violin Concertos. The orchestral part is in the hands of the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, which has Mozart’s music written into its DNA, so to speak. Robert Schumann’s Fourth Symphony, originally conceived as a »symphonic fantasy«, also tells a story.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 10, 2024

Karol Mossakowski, Organ

Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Karol Mossakowski (Organ)

France and Germany – today, these two countries are best friends. The long-standing rivalry between them has, however, not only led to many a disagreement in politics. Even in the field of organ music, they took different paths for a long time: in France, people celebrated sound and tone colour; in Germany, virtuosity and counterpoint. Karol Mossakowski showcases the best of both worlds: a sedate organ symphony in the style of Widor, sound magic in the style of Fauré and visionary music in the style of Alain – all of them first-rate musical gems. Fauré clad the myth of Pelléas and Mélisande in subtle, highly sensitive sounds, Alain paved the way for the 21st century with his organ music widening the musical horizon. Not for nothing are the moving Litanies on the foundation of human existence some of the most widely played organ works of all for instance. Mendelssohn and Liszt are bywords for the German Romantic school. The variations sérieuses as well as the Mephisto Waltzes had originally been written for piano, but the art of arrangement has a long tradition especially in organ circles. What is not playable will be made playable – that is the motto here. After all, compared with pianists, organists also have two feet and an enormous pool of tonal colours at their disposal. Karol Mossakowski will also make use of this when he pursues another tradition cultivated by organists: improvisation. Here too, he is a true master of his trade.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 8, 2024

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Alan Gilbert

Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 18:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Alan Gilbert (Conductor)

Anton Bruckner’s symphonies have been part of the core repertoire of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra since the chief conductor era of Günter Wand. To mark the 200th anniversary of the Austrian symphonist’s birth, however, they will be a special focus of the 2024/25 season, with chief conductor Alan Gilbert now taking over the direction of Bruckner’s longest and most powerful symphony, the Eighth, following his recently celebrated interpretations of the Seventh and Fourth in Hamburg.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 6, 2024

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Alan Gilbert

Fri, Dec 6, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Alan Gilbert (Conductor)

Anton Bruckner’s symphonies have been part of the core repertoire of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra since the chief conductor era of Günter Wand. To mark the 200th anniversary of the Austrian symphonist’s birth, however, they will be a special focus of the 2024/25 season, with chief conductor Alan Gilbert now taking over the direction of Bruckner’s longest and most powerful symphony, the Eighth, following his recently celebrated interpretations of the Seventh and Fourth in Hamburg.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 5, 2024

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Alan Gilbert

Thu, Dec 5, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Alan Gilbert (Conductor)

Anton Bruckner’s symphonies have been part of the core repertoire of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra since the chief conductor era of Günter Wand. To mark the 200th anniversary of the Austrian symphonist’s birth, however, they will be a special focus of the 2024/25 season, with chief conductor Alan Gilbert now taking over the direction of Bruckner’s longest and most powerful symphony, the Eighth, following his recently celebrated interpretations of the Seventh and Fourth in Hamburg.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 4, 2024

Orchestre des Champs-Élysées / Collegium Vocale Gent / Philippe Herreweghe

Wed, Dec 4, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Collegium Vocale Gent, Eleanor Lyons (Soprano), Sophie Harmsen (Mezzo-Soprano), Ilker Arcayürek (Tenor), Jarrett Ott (Bariton), Philippe Herreweghe (Conductor)

200 years of Ode To Joy. 200 years of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. A convincing reason for Philippe Herreweghe and his excellent ensembles from Paris and Ghent to look at the 1824 masterpiece from a completely new perspective. To mark the anniversary of the monumental symphony with its brilliant choral finale, whose »sparkle of the gods« seems to have become ever more radiant over the centuries, he juxtaposes it with an eminently pacifist work: Hanns Eisler’s 1936 choral composition »Gegen den Krieg« (Against the War) based on a text by Bertolt Brecht. The expressive work is characterised by Eisler’s own traumatic experiences from the First World War and the looming disaster of the next war. Both a warning and a glimmer of hope speak from this programme, which ultimately sends out a »Seid umschlungen Millionen!« (Be embraced millions!) into the world.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 3, 2024

Baltic Sea Philharmonic / Gabrielė Bekerytė / Kristjan Järvi

Tue, Dec 3, 2024, 20:30

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Baltic Sea Philharmonic, Gabrielė Bekerytė (Piano), Kristjan Järvi (Conductor)

Nordic Christmas Magic: Kristjan Järvi and the Baltic Sea Philharmonic thrilled audiences and the media with their past concerts at the Elbphilharmonie. Now they return with their successful concert programme »Nutcracker Reimagined« and bring the magic and enchantment of the Christmas season to Hamburg. The programme includes music by Grieg, Pärt, and Tchaikovsky’s world-famous »Nutcracker«, and for the entire concert, they put their music stands aside and play completely from memory – a unique concert experience!

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

December 1, 2024

Symphoniker Hamburg / Veronika Eberle / Han-Na Chang

Sun, Dec 1, 2024, 19:00

Laeiszhalle, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Symphoniker Hamburg, Veronika Eberle (Violin), Han-Na Chang (Conductor)

Thinking of forests in the finale of Mendelssohn’s immortally beautiful Violin Concerto in E minor is a real recommendation inasmuch as the fairies, will-o’-the-wisps and kind-hearted gnomes romping about in it are comparatively harmless creatures. Composed between 1838 and 1844 for his friend Ferdinand David, concertmaster of Leipzig’s Gewandhausorchester, it was intended to be a brilliant piece (»stilo moltissimo concertantissimo«). Mendelssohn joked back that the soloist’s entire first movement would consist of a single high E. In the end, the two Hamburg natives were extremely happy with the result.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Albert-Schweitzer-Jugendorchester / Mädchenchor Hamburg

Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 11:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Albert Schweitzer Jugendorchester, Mädchenchor Hamburg, Sebastian Beckedorf (Director), Gesa Werhahn (Chorus Director)

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.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)