Easter at the Elbphilharmonie

Just like in the run-up to Christmas, attending a concert before Easter is simply part of the festive season for many people. Lent and Holy Week are a time of contemplation and reflection; the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ himself is even more important in the church year than his birth (although in the vernacular, Father Christmas and the Easter Bunny are more or less on a par). Correspondingly emotional music has been written for this occasion, especially as the crucifixion and resurrection provide a dramaturgically rewarding template. Both famous Bach Passions can be heard at the Elbphilharmonie in the week before Easter by top performers, as well as Beethoven’s »Christ on the Mount of Olives« oratorio, Haydn’s touching »Seven Last Words« and Verdi’s highly dramatic Requiem – the latter with the orchestra of the Zurich Opera House.