Presenters

The wide variety of concerts in the Laeiszhalle is presented by a large group of regional and national promoters. The Elbphilharmonie Concerts - trademark of HamburgMusik gGmbH, Elbphilharmonie und Laeiszhalle Betriebsgesellschaft - represent less than 10 percent of the whole programme. Other promoters are the three Hamburg orchestras (Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, NDR Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra), private promoters such as ProArte or Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion, and many others. Below can be found short biographies of the main promoters of concerts in the Laeiszhalle besides the Elbphilharmonie Concerts.

Ensemble Resonanz
The Ensemble Resonanz represents a new generation of musicians: they bridge the gap between tradition and contemporary music and seek to contrast as well as to connect old masters with modern composers. With passion they dedicate themselves to the promotion and development of new string repertoire and an up-to-date interpretation of classical works.
In 2002, the Ensemble Resonanz settled in the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, where it is »Ensemble in Residence« and established the highly successful concert program »Resonanzen«. This is the eighth season that it has enriched the musical life of Hamburg as a catalyst by offering striking contrasts in its programs and combining rare and classical works of former centuries with modern music, newly commissioned works and premiere performances.

Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra has been making music in Hamburg for more than 175 years. Today the Philharmonic Orchestra, run by the City of Hamburg, plays at almost all the opera and ballet evenings and also gives the philharmonic concerts held in the Laeiszhalle.
The breadth of styles covered by the 130 full-time musicians has no equal in Germany. Since August 2005 Australian conductor Simone Young has been Hamburg's Principal Musical Director. As well as modern composers, such as Oliver Messiaen, Tristan Murail, Henri Dutilleux, Tan Dun and Brett Dean, major works from the classic-romantic repertoire can also be enjoyed. Simone Young integrates the concert programme with the opera programme. In this way the works of Benjamin Britten and Paul Hindemith are performed in Dammtorstrasse as well as in the Laeiszhalle – a central theme running like a thread through a diverse, exciting programme.

NDR Symphony Orchestra
The NDR Symphony Orchestra was founded by British occupation authorities after World War II. Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt was given the task of assembling the orchestra, which occurred over a period of six months. The orchestra gave its first concert in November 1945, conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, with Yehudi Menuhin as soloist. The orchestra first visited the UK in 1951, as part of the concerts celebrating the re-opening in Manchester of the Free Trade Hall.
The orchestra has gained great renown in the great classical and romantic composers such as Bruckner and Beethoven as well as in contemporary works.
Since 2004, the orchestra's principal conductor has been Christoph von Dohnányi. The current principal guest conductor is Alan Gilbert. In March 2009, the orchestra announced the appointment of Thomas Hengelbrock as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2011-2012 season, for an initial contract of 3 years.

Hamburg Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1957, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra is a highly recognized and greatly respected component of Europe's cultural life. The triumphant debut of Andrey Boreyko as the orchestra's new principal conductor in the 2004-2005 season has been celebrated by an exciting new era in the orchestra's history. The 2007 US tour marked the orchestra's United States debut. The orchestra and Maestro Boreyko were joined by critically acclaimed violinist Robert McDuffie, who performed works by Tchaikovsky and Bruch.
In spring 2008, Jeffrey Tate joined the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra as its new Chief Conductor.