First Season in Pictures

355 events, 530,000 concertgoers, 3,474,400 Plaza visitors: the Elbphilharmonie can look back at a whirlwind opening season. Always near by – in front of or behind the stage: photographers like Claudia Höhne and Peter Hundert. Their documentation of magical moments of artists in rehearsals and before, during and after concerts is revealed in an impressive photo book.

The retrospective is supplemented by four stirring commentaries from German and international press, published between November 2016 and summer 2017. They illustrate the fascination and enthusiasm that the Elbphilharmonie has triggered all over the world.

The Elbphilharmonie photobook is available from bookstores nationwide, from the Elbphilharmonie shop on the Plaza or online.

Elbphilharmonie – Die erste Saison. Künstler, Konzerte, Emotionen
192 pages, hardcover,
over 100 photographs, €11.00
Language: German

Boy group with strings: Since 1999, the four members of Quatuor Ebène have been fine-tuning their international career. Hardly any other ensemble in their genre has managed to switch so persuasively from Haydn to jazz, from Bartók to Brazil. Before the quartet got into position for a »blind date« in the Recital Hall, they snapped a group selfie with the audience.

Overdue debut: Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann was originally going to sing at the opening concert of the Elbphilharmonie, but he fell ill and was forced to cancel. Completely restored to good health, Kaufmann made his Elbphilharmonie debut on 24 May, and took the audience in the Grand Hall by storm. After the concert, his fans showered him with bouquets and gifts backstage, and the delighted singer enjoyed a warm cup of tea as well.

Eight young men from New Orleans take hold of the audience with their potent grooves.

So close to the sky: The ngoni looks like a nondescript instrument. But in the hands of Bassekou Kouyaté and the three other ngoni players in his band, it exudes a powerful magic. He appeared at the Elbphilharmonie together with six members of his family as part of the »Transatlantic« festival, which traced a variety of musical connections between Europe, Africa and America. Our photographer asked Bassekou Kouyaté to join him on the roof of the Elbphilharmonie.

Mingling with the crowd on a summer’s night in Hamburg: Kristjan Järvi and the Baltic Sea Philharmonic were a big hit with people attending the »Concert Cinema«, a free public viewing event on the Elbphilharmonie forecourt.

Daniel Dittus, Peter Hundert, Claudia Höhne, Michael Zapf and Jann Wilken.