Elbphilharmonie Opening

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Thomas Hengelbrock

This concert has already taken place!
This concert has already taken place!
Thomas Hengelbrock
Thomas Hengelbrock © Paul Schirnhofer
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester © Michael Zapf
Philippe Jaroussky
Philippe Jaroussky © Simon Fowler
Wiebke Lehmkuhl
Wiebke Lehmkuhl © Sound and Picturedesign
Pavol Breslik
Pavol Breslik © Anton Karpita
Iveta Apkalna
Iveta Apkalna © Nils Vilnis
  • Doors open 17:30

  • Start 18:30

  • Interval

Description

The time has finally come: the inauguration of the Elbphilharmonie! The celebratory opening concerts that mark the start of a three-week festival are in the very capable hands of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, resident orchestra of the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall.

The complete concert programme remains a secret, but the performers have already been revealed: Principal Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock and his orchestra, the NDR Chor, the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks and a line-up of widely acclaimed soloists.

The programme spans across all musical eras, from the Renaissance to the present. It culminates in a brand-new commissioned work, created especially for this occasion by the most important living German composer Wolfgang Rihm. In varying instrumentation and with outstanding soloists the possibilities of the Grand Hall and its acoustics are explored – a prelude to many more great moments in Hamburg’s new musical landmark!

Please note the change of artists:
Jonas Kaufmann has regretfully withdrawn from his appearances in the Grand Opening concerts of the Elbphilharmonie on 11 and 12 January 2017. Following the advice of his doctor, Kaufmann has made the difficult decision to postpone his return to the stage, so that he can fully recover from illness. In the second half of January, Kaufmann appears in »Lohengrin« at the Opéra de Paris. Tenor Pavol Breslik has graciously agreed to step in for Mr Kaufmann.

Anja Harteros has unfortunately been forced to withdraw from her appearance in the Grand Opening concerts of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. We are delighted that Camilla Tilling has agreed to sing the soprano part for both concerts on 11 and 12 January 2017.

Opening concert in live stream:
From the concert hall, of the outside or in 360-degrees: The opening concert will be streamed live at elbphilharmonie.de/en/worldwide on 11 January. Watch a repeat screening at 17:40 on ARTE on Sunday, 15 January, and at 20:15 on 3sat on Saturday, 21 January.

Performers

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester

NDR Vokalensemble

Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Ensemble Praetorius

Kalev Kuljus oboe

Margret Köll harp

Thomas Bloch ondes Martenot

Xie Ya-ou piano

Iveta Apkalna organ

Hanna-Elisabeth Müller soprano

Wiebke Lehmkuhl alto

Philippe Jaroussky countertenor

Pavol Breslik tenor

Sir Bryn Terfel bass baritone

conductor Thomas Hengelbrock

Programme

Festakt

Ludwig van Beethoven
Overture from »Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus«, Op. 43

Begrüßung Olaf Scholz (Erster Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg)

Grußwort Joachim Gauck (Bundespräsident der Bundesrepublik Deutschland)

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Overture from »Ruy Blas«, Op. 95

Festrede Jacques Herzog (Herzog & de Meuron)

Schlusswort Christoph Lieben-Seutter (Generalintendant Elbphilharmonie und Laeiszhalle)

Johannes Brahms
Allegro con spirito / from: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

– Interval –

Eröffnungskonzert: »Zum Raum wird hier die Zeit«

Benjamin Britten
Pan / from: Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op. 49

Henri Dutilleux
Appels, Echos and Prismes / from: Mystère de l'Instant

Emilio de’ Cavalieri
Dalle più alte sfere / from: Intermediaries for »La Pellegrina«

Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Photoptosis / Prelude for Large Orchestra

Jacob Praetorius
Quam pulchra es / Motet for Five Voices and Basso Continuo

Rolf Liebermann
Furioso for Large Orchestra

Giulio Caccini
Amarilli, mia bella / from: Le nuove musiche

Olivier Messiaen
Finale / from: Turangalîla Symphony for Piano, Ondes Martenot and Orchestra

– Interval –

Richard Wagner
Prelude to »Parsifal«, WWV 111

Wolfgang Rihm
Reminiszenz / Triptychon und Spruch in memoriam Hans Henny Jahnn (world premiere)

Ludwig van Beethoven
Finale / from: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

Festival

Elbphilharmonie Opening

Promoter: HamburgMusik

»Reminiszenz« was commissioned by the NDR

During your visit

Elbphilharmonie Plaza

A public viewing platform on the 8th floor of the Elbphilharmonie

More about the Plaza

Food and Drink

Before the concert and in the interval

Find out more

Coughing, clapping, chatting

Tips for your concert visit

Read now