The Cologne Chamber Orchestra traditionally welcomes the new year with music by Johann Sebastian Bach, featuring his Orchestral Suite and Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. Bach's Double Concerto spotlights Baroque instruments like the oboe, while his E-Major Violin Concerto, once forgotten, now challenges and delights. Violinist Veronika Eberle, known for her soulful playing, describes Bach's music as a house—once you understand its structure, you can move freely within it.
About 20 years ago, Francesco Tristano's career began with an intensive exploration of Johann Sebastian Bach's music. Since then, the pianist from Luxembourg has repeatedly returned to Bach's work, always seeking new interpretations. Tristano's stylistic range is vast, from classical to modern, incorporating minimal music and virtuosic classical piano pieces.
On Christmas Day evening, Cologne's Philharmonie will host a festive concert. Marie-Sophie Pollak will sing Christmas arias with her warm soprano, Max Volbers will play enchanting recorder melodies, and Concerto Köln will provide the authentic Baroque sound. The program includes Bach's jubilant aria "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen" and other brilliant arias. Pollak replaces Katharina Konradi.
"Jauchzet, frohlocket!" Bach's Christmas Oratorio rings in Advent with rousing choirs, atmospheric solos, and contemplative chorales. A star cast of soloists, the WDR Rundfunkchor and Sinfonieorchester, and conductor Simon Halsey bring the timeless story of peace on earth to life.
Bach's Christmas Oratorio is a holiday staple. In this unique concert format, the audience actively participates by solving puzzles in an exclusive Bach Escape Room game. Only upon successful completion will the beloved Christmas music be heard.
During their lifetime, French composer Louise Farrenc and Emilie Mayer from Mecklenburg were more than just respected composers. The original sound ensemble Concerto Köln commemorates the two Romantic composers with two orchestral works. Robert Schumann's unique violin concerto completes the program. Berlioz, impressed by Farrenc's Overture No. 2, praised her highly. Mayer's Symphony No. 7 demonstrates why she was celebrated as the "female Beethoven". Schumann's Violin Concerto, though written earlier, premiered only in 1937. Concerto Köln's concertmaster, Shunske Sato, will perform as soloist.
Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio, composed between 1734 and 1735, is a monumental work celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Each part, from the announcement of the birth to the adoration of the kings, corresponds to a specific liturgical period. Rich music, including festive choruses, intimate arias, and vivid orchestrations, makes this a timeless masterpiece.
Kit Armstrong, hailed as a "musician of the century" and praised by Alfred Brendel, stands out in today's music scene. A pianist, organist, composer, and author, his vast repertoire spans historical and modern instruments. He translates his profound knowledge into captivating sound.
In the concert series "Organ Plus...", the Klais organ meets a cello for the first time, played by cellist Julia Hagen and organist Angela Metzger. They'll present works from Baroque to contemporary, including Vivaldi and Sofia Gubaidulina, alongside solo performances. Hagen will play a Bach cello suite, while Metzger, a specialist in new music, will premiere a work by Philipp Maintz.
The cities of Dnipro and Cologne are celebrating their friendship with a concert, marking their two-year collaboration with a city partnership. The concert will feature a mix of German and Ukrainian musical traditions, including works by Bach, Schumann, Lyatoshynskyi, and Almashi. The program also includes the German premiere of Chiacchiaretta's "Sunflower Seeds" and a performance by Dmytro Udovychenko, winner of the Concours Reine Elisabeth.
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