The Elbphilharmonie Turns 10

The Elbphilharmonie is marking its tenth anniversary with a season of exceptional breadth and ambition. General & Artistic Director Christoph Lieben-Seutter and Alan Gilbert, Chief Conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, unveiled the programme for the 2026/27 anniversary season in Hamburg on Thursday – featuring a host of top international stars and world-class orchestras. Thematically, the spotlight turns to the 250th anniversary of the United States. Seven of the finest US orchestras are set to perform a total of 13 concerts, including the New York Philharmonic, returning for the first time since 2017. The multi-award-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens explores the global roots of American musical culture in a wide-ranging »Reflektor« festival, as curator, composer and performer, shining a light on its often overlooked pioneers. The birthdays of composers John Adams and Steve Reich are celebrated alongside that of the jazz giant John Coltrane. American composer Missy Mazzoli presents her highly topical works as part of »NDR Artist Across Ensembles« and the season’s Artists in Residence include violinist Augustin Hadelich and Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. Elsewhere, the programme turns to the music of Lebanon and to musical explorations of the Prometheus myth, while dance icon Sasha Waltz curates a multi-day »Reflektor« festival. »Elbphilharmonie Visions«, the festival for contemporary orchestral music initiated by Alan Gilbert, returns for its third edition. The Beethoven Year 2027 is marked on a grand scale: Quatuor Ébène performs the complete string quartets, Igor Levit embarks on a two-season cycle of all the piano sonatas and Lang Lang presents the full set of piano concertos. Beyond classical music, audiences can look forward to the return of favourites such as Mariza, Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour, Sophie Hunger, Dianne Reeves and the Punch Brothers. Numerous other ambitious projects, including Mieczysław Weinberg’s opera »The Passenger« and Luigi Nono’s magnum opus »Prometeo«, round off the programme. Subscriptions for the 2026/27 season are already available at www.elbphilharmonie.com; advance booking for single tickets begins on 19 May.

On 11 January 2027, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the Hamburg-based band Meute present a grand gala concert. Two days later, Ensemble Resonanz celebrates the 10th birthday of the Recital Hall. By then, more than seven million visitors of all ages will have experienced concerts, while around 30 million will have visited the Plaza. Throughout the season and in a variety of formats, the Elbphilharmonie is honouring its extraordinary success story – one that has made it one of Germany’s foremost cultural flagships on the global stage. On 1 September, before the season opening concert, a press conference will look back over the past ten years. Invitations to media representatives will follow shortly.

To mark the Elbphilharmonie’s anniversary, an impressive line-up of American orchestras are headed to Hamburg. The Cleveland Orchestra, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, performs works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Deutsch and Strauss over the course of two evenings, with the exceptional South African soprano Golda Schultz appearing as the soloist in Strauss’ »Four Last Songs« (2/3 October). The New York Philharmonic makes its debut at the Elbphilharmonie with its new Music Director Gustavo Dudamel (18/19 October). Klaus Mäkelä, the designated Chief Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, presents key works from the symphonic repertoire: from Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7 to Gustav Mahler’s transcendental Ninth (15/16 January). Over three evenings, Andris Nelsons leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a dialogue of contrasting works between the two musical revolutionaries Beethoven and Stravinsky (15/16/17 March). The Kansas City Symphony, conducted by its Music Director Matthias Pintscher, presents »Appalachian Spring«, one of the most beloved works by their compatriot Aaron Copland (29 August). Under the baton of Rafael Payare, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra performs Bartók, Stravinsky and Ortiz. Violin virtuoso Leonidas Kavakos enriches the evening as the soloist in Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 (3 May). The anniversary season opens with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra led by Manfred Honeck, joined by Alexandre Kantorow (1/2 September).

The American John Adams, one of the defining composers of our time, also takes centre stage. His sophisticated and highly sensual works are rooted in the rhythmic energy of minimal music. Adams infuses them with an iridescent harmonic palette and, time and again, with socio-political messaging. To mark his 80th birthday in 2027, the Elbphilharmonie is showcasing some of his major works in five concerts. »Harmonielehre« is set to bathe the Grand Hall in magnificent hues of sound in celebration of the Elbphilharmonie’s tenth anniversary (11 January). Two further concert programmes by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra also feature »Lollapalooza« (10/11 September) and »Absolute Jest« (25/26 June). The New York Philharmonic performs »On the Transmigration of Souls«, composed in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 (19 October). For the London Symphony Orchestra concert, Adams himself takes the podium to conduct some of his greatest works, including »Shaker Loops« and »Short Ride in a Fast Machine« (24 January).

She writes daring art in complex, stirring times: Missy Mazzoli, the »NDR Artist Across Ensembles« for this anniversary season. In 2018, she became the first female composer ever to create a commissioned work for the Metropolitan Opera. Between pulsating minimalist structures and rich, expressive orchestration, a sound emerges that feels charged, emotive and instantly engaging. At the same time, Mazzoli responds to the political climate of Trump’s America, championing greater visibility for female and non-binary artists. At the Elbphilharmonie, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Bigband and Vokalensemble embark on (partly joint) explorations through her diverse body of work, from the percussion thriller »Millennium Canticles« and the pandemic-era choral work »Year of Our Burning« (16 April) to »Sinfonia« (17/20 September). Mazzoli also presents a new solo concert for the pianist and NDR Artist in Residence Leif Ove Andsnes (6 February).

A stellar line-up of international stars is set to fill the Elbphilharmonie with that quintessential American art form: jazz. Guitarists John Scofield (21 August) and Julian Lage (19 February) each feature organist John Medeski in their quartets, who is reviving the unmistakable sound of the Hammond organ. Three-time Grammy winner Cécile McLorin Salvant performs at the Laeiszhalle (19 October) and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, joined by singer Christie Dashiell, reimagines »We Insist! Freedom Now Suite« as an artistic statement on equality, tolerance and freedom (24 October). In 2026, John Coltrane, one of the most influential saxophonists of all time, would have celebrated his 100th birthday. At the Elbphilharmonie, several all-star bands are set to honour his legacy, featuring such greats as Joe Lovano, Nduduzo Makhathini, Jeff »Tain« Watts, Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves. Ravi Coltrane (5/8/16 November), son of John Coltrane and a saxophonist in his own right, joins acclaimed harpist Brandee Younger for a tribute to his mother Alice Coltrane – a jazz harpist, pianist and visionary composer who would have turned 90 in 2027 (10 March).

In the United States, folk musician, composer and multi-instrumenalist Rhiannon Giddens is a bonafide superstar – thanks to her band Carolina Chocolate Drops, collaborations with stars including Beyoncé and Renée Fleming and soundtracks for movies and video games. In doing so, she sets out in search of the historical roots of American musical traditions. Giddens delves deeply into the past of the banjo, which was developed in the Southern states by enslaved Black people, inspired by traditional instruments from their lost African homeland. This diverse breadth is reflected in the programme for her five-day »Reflektor« festival at the Elbphilharmonie. As the new Artistic Director of the Silkroad Ensemble, succeeding founder Yo-Yo Ma, she presents excerpts from her Pulitzer Prize-winning opera »Omar« and her ballet »Black Lucy and the Bard«. A recital spanning Baroque to spirituals, along with guest appearances by Seckou Keita and Leyla McCalla, rounds out the »Reflektor« programme (25–29 November).

World-renowned choreographer Sasha Waltz shares a special, long-standing connection with the Elbphilharmonie: even before its official opening on 11 January 2017, she performed in its foyers with more than 80 musicians and dancers, bringing the building’s spectacular architecture vividly to life. For the tenth anniversary, Waltz now returns with her company for a long weekend curated entirely by her. Waltz herself appears twice on stage: in an intimate collaboration with cellist Anastasia Kobekina, performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suites, and – together with other dancers – in »for the time being«, set to the ambient sounds of Diego Noguera. On two evenings, Waltz brings the explosive power of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 to the stage. In the project »Fluence«, too, dance enters into a spontaneous, partly improvised dialogue with the music. Also joining the »Reflektor« line-up is the post-industrial band The Young Gods, who join forces with Waltz’s company to reimagine »In C« by Terry Riley. Audiences experience it all at close range, sometimes immersed within the action, or, in the case of »The Singing Project« by Ayumi Paul, even becoming part of the performance themselves (11–14 March).

Violinist Augustin Hadelich ranks among the crème de la crème in his field, renowned for the exceptional beauty of his tone. In the 2026/27 season, he takes on the role of Artist in Residence at the Elbphilharmonie. Hadelich’s programme explores every facet of his instrument: from Barber’s lyrical Violin Concerto (2 September) and major sonatas by Brahms and Prokofiev (9 November) to elegant violin works by Mozart with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, of which he is an Artistic Partner (26 January), and as part of an all-star piano trio (10 May). NDR Chief Conductor Alan Gilbert says of the Norwegian Leif Ove Andsnes: »He is one of the most elegant pianists I know.« A highly sought-after soloist, Andsnes regularly appears with the world’s leading orchestras. As Artist in Residence of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Andsnes presents three concert programmes this season. Other highlights include a performance with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Kirill Petrenko (8 May) and an evening dedicated to Beethoven’s final three piano sonatas (15 April).

The music of the 21st century is an adventure – and nowhere is it more at home than in a 21st-century concert hall. For the third time, the biennial festival »Elbphilharmonie Visions« brings a curated »best of« selection of contemporary orchestral music to Hamburg. Presented in compact one-hour concerts, the programme is performed by some of Germany’s leading radio orchestras, led by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under its Chief Conductor Alan Gilbert. The programme features both prominent names from the scene and emerging artists. The festival opens with a world premiere by Veljko Nenadić, who is awarded the Claussen-Simon Composition Prize, a distinction created especially for the festival (29 January–7 February).

To mark the 200th anniversary of his death on 26 March 2027, the music of Ludwig van Beethoven is celebrated in the form of several cycles. Superstar Lang Lang performs all five piano concertos, accompanied by Andris Nelsons with »his« two orchestras based in Boston and Leipzig, and paired with several symphonies (15/16/17 March; 7/8/9 June). The irresistible Quatuor Ébène performs all of Beethoven’s string quartets (9/11 October; 11/13 December; 12/14 February), while Igor Levit begins a two-season series of all the piano sonatas at the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle (13/14 October; 3/24 June). The programme also features a number of other world-class performances, including the Ninth Symphony with Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra (5 April) and the »Missa solemnis« with Jordi Savall and his ensembles (3 February).

Among all the myths of ancient Greece, Prometheus holds a unique place. He rebels against Zeus, the father of the gods, and brings fire to humanity, still uncivilised at the time; in another version, he even creates humankind himself from clay and breathes life into them. A range of musical reflections on the myth can be experienced throughout the coming season, featuring titular organist Iveta Apkalna (27 January), baritone Konstantin Krimmel (2 April), pianist Kit Armstrong (21 April) and the multi-talented Barbara Hannigan conducting the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra (6/7 May). François-Xavier Roth and the SWR Symphonieorchester perform Luigi Nono’s landmark music theatre work »Prometeo« (6 March). Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, together with Ensemble Resonanz, offers a striking reinterpretation of the Prometheus myth in an original concert format, portraying it as an archetypal fall from grace, where the loss of innocence leads to war and environmental destruction (2 May).

As an institution of open doors and open ears, the Elbphilharmonie has always been a meeting place – not only for people, but for musical styles and traditions from around the world. At the start of the season, two icons of Brazilian music, Arthur Verocai (19 August) and Djavan (23 September), take to the stage; in spring 2027, audience favourites Angelique Kidjo and Youssou NDour return as a duo (30 March). A four-day festival is dedicated to the music of Lebanon. The six-piece band Sanam transports the audience to the heart of Beirut’s music scene, where experimental rock meets Egyptian sounds and Arabic poetry. Dance comes to the fore with Rayess Bek, who reworks traditional »Dabke« recordings electronically and combines them with projections to create a striking audio-visual experience. Classical Arabic instruments including the buzuq, a long-necked lute, and the oud are reimagined by Farah Kaddour and Charbel Rouhana. Singers Abeer Nehme and Tania Saleh, two of Lebanon’s greatest voices, share personal stories from their turbulent homeland (29 October–1 November).

Rising stars on the brink of international careers take to the spotlight in the FAST LANE series. Pianist Roman Borisov has already impressed audiences in the »Pianomania« series. Now he returns to accompany cellist Jaemin Han, the youngest winner of the George Enescu International Competition, in his Elbphilharmonie debut (12 December). Alexandra Dovgan makes a powerful statement with epoch-defining piano sonatas (17 April). The programme spans a wide range of styles, from the Danish NOVO String Quartet (19 March) to violinist Guido Sant’Anna performing music from his South American homeland (26 February) and the gentle soundscapes of Catalan trombonist and singer Rita Payés (2 June). Saxophonist Isaiah Collier from Chicago celebrates the music of his idol John Coltrane (5 November).

»It’s all about sex.« That is how Leonard Bernstein described the almost physically palpable energy of Igor Stravinsky’s scandalous ballet »The Rite of Spring«. With this in mind, the Hamburg International Music Festival adopts the motto »Sex, Drugs & Rock ’n’ Roll« for the 2026/27 season to mark the 10th anniversary of the »Elphi« – a playful provocation that is also a nod to this often overlooked side of classical music. A special focus is given to New York composer Julius Eastman, whose work channels his identity as a Black and gay artist into a highly individual musical language, before he ultimately lost his battle with drug addiction. The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra performs the opening concert of the music festival with an oratorio by the recently deceased composer Sofia Gubaidulina on the power of love (30 April/1 May). The full programme will be announced in November.

When the sun rises over Hamburg, the first school classes are already gathering in front of the Elbphilharmonie to take part in a »World of Instruments« workshop or attend a concert created especially for young audiences. Elsewhere in the building, amateur ensembles rehearse, while participants prepare for performances in community projects they have helped to shape. The Music Education team organises around 1,000 such events each season. In the tenth anniversary season, the programme once again includes a wide range of concerts for all age groups, from babies to young adults, alongside large-scale productions. »Let’s Play Vol. 2« brings live gaming with orchestral and sound accompaniment to both the Grand Hall and Twitch (1/2 April). In the »Shadow Concert« with the Orchester im Treppenhaus, individuals who are usually unheard in public address the audience from behind a shadow screen (4 May). »This is absolutely normal and nobody is concerned« is a collaborative music theatre experience that explores intimacy, rebellion and tenderness. It brings together around 100 participants from across the city to create an interdisciplinary performance (23 May). The season concludes with the Elbphilharmonie once again opening its doors wide, celebrating its guiding principle that it is a »concert hall for everyone« with a season finale and Open House event (1–4 July).