Sat, 2 May 2026 20:00

Franz Schmidt: Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln / Manfred Honeck

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / MDR Radio Choir / NDR Vokalensemble / Maximilian Schmitt / Tareq Nazmi / Christina Landshamer – Hamburg International Music Festival

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Tickets from €35 €15 | 35 | 65 | 95 | 115

Doors open 18:30
Pre-concert talk 19:00
Start 20:00

The end of the world with an all-star cast

The great Austrian repertoire from the Strauss family to Mahler and Berg is in the best hands with Vorarlberg native Manfred Honeck. And because the 2026 Hamburg International Music Festival’s motto is »The End«, for the opening concert, Honeck brings along the most monumental end-of-the-world vision by an Austrian composer of the 20th century: Franz Schmidt’s apocalypse rendering »Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln« (The Book with Seven Seals). Outstanding singers and choirs are a must here.

On the eve of the Second World War, Franz Schmidt undertook nothing less than a coherent musical setting of the Apocalypse of John. The complete history of human salvation is the theme of his oratorio. The story ranges from the spread of the Christian faith to decline, »war of all against all«, and the Day of Judgement. Each of the seals in the title represents a stage on this journey: »I have adhered closely to the original and have approached the work solely from the perspective of a deeply religious person and artist,« said the devout Catholic about his setting of the last book of the Bible.

Schmidt’s monumental oratorio demands enormous effort from all performers. For the legendary tenor Peter Schreier, the exorbitantly demanding role of John was one of his signature roles; in Hamburg, Maximillian Schmitt now sings the prophet. Schmitt is supported by a team of top-class singers, such as bass Tareq Nazmi, who embodies the voice of God, and soprano Christina Landshamer as mother and angel. The work was composed for the 150th anniversary of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien and its Wiener Singverein. Now the NDR Vokalensemble and MDR Radio Choir sing the challenging choral parts.

Performers

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester

MDR-Rundfunkchor

NDR Vokalensemble

Maximilian Schmitt Johannes

Tareq Nazmi Stimme des Herrn

Christina Landshamer soprano

Catriona Morison alto

Patrick Grahl tenor

Gerrit Illenberger bass

conductor Manfred Honeck

Programme

Franz Schmidt
Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln / Oratorio for Soloists, Choir, Organ and Orchestra

Pre-Concert Talk

(in German)

19:00 / Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal

Series

Operas and Vocal Works

Find out more

Festival

Hamburg International Music Festival

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Promoter: HamburgMusik / NDR

From the Mediatheque : Videos, Podcasts, Articles

Interview with Manfred Honeck

»We need to move away from technical perfection«: The conductor on his understanding of staying true to the work and the contrasting worlds of Karajan and Harnoncourt. #Interview

Location : Elbphilharmonie
Großer Saal

Heart of the Elbphilharmonie: the Grand Hall seats 2,100 guests in the »vineyard« style. The stage for artists and orchestras is situated at the centre of the concert hall and is surrounded by terraced seating.

Arrival time

The Elbphilharmonie is a special building situated in a special place. Allow for plenty of time for getting to the Elbphilharmonie and the way to the concert area. We suggest visitors arrive at the Elbphilharmonie Plaza not later than 30 minutes before the start of the concert or event. Late seating is not guaranteed and latecomers may not be admitted to the concert hall.

Concert tickets for the Grand and Recital Halls authorise a visit to the Plaza from two hours before the start of the concert or event. Visitors to the Kaistudios require a separate Plaza ticket to visit the Plaza.

Admission times:

Events without pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 60 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 30 minutes before the start of the event

Events with pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 90 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 15 minutes before the start of the talk

If a pre-concert talk is offered for this event, it is noted above under PROGRAMME.
Getting here

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
Platz der Deutschen Einheit
20457 Hamburg

The Elbphilharmonie can be easily reached by bus, underground, bicycle and ferry.

The nearest stops include:
Underground line U3: Baumwall
Underground line U4: Überseequartier
Bus 2, 111: Am Kaiserkai (Elbphilharmonie)
Bus 6: Auf dem Sande (Speicherstadt)
Ferry 72 (from Landungsbrücken pier): »Elbphilharmonie« pier
StadtRAD (bicycle sharing system) stations: U Baumwall (Elbphilharmonie) and Am Kaiserkai / Großer Grasbrook

Multistorey car park in the Elbphilharmonie (open 24/7, 435 parking spaces):
Please note that visitors to the Elbphilharmonie should use the entrance marked »Elbphilharmonie«. The entrance »Elbphilharmonie Hotel« is reserved for »The Westin Hamburg« hotel guests.

Please find more information about prices and advance booking of the discounted flat rate on this page: arrival by car
Finding your seat

All visitors enter the building via the main entrance; access to the concert hall is via the »Plaza«, the viewing platform on the 8th floor of the Elbphilharmonie. The Plaza can be reached from the entrance area via the long escalator. Your tickets will be checked twice, at the access control in the entrance area and on the Plaza in front of the staircase to the Great Hall.

The hall entrances are on floors 12, 13, 15 and 16.
Cloakroom

The cloakrooms are located on the 11th floor (fee: € 2). Jackets and handbags may be taken into the hall.

Walking-stick umbrellas, bags sized A3 (42 x 30 cm) or above, luggage and other bulky items must be stored in the lockers (largest size 27 x 87 x 47 cm) located in the corridor leading to the ticket shop on the ground floor (on the right-hand side of the entrance area).

Strollers and prams can be left with the admissions personnel on the Plaza. Wheeled walkers can be handed in at the hall entrances.
Toilet Facilities

The central toilet facility is located on the 13th floor of the Grand Hall Foyer. Further facilities can be found on floors 11, 12 and 15.

Fully accessible toilets are located on floors 12 (north side) and 13 (right-hand side of the large bar). Our front-of-house staff is happy to assist you in this regard.
Photography and video recordings

It is forbidden to take photographs or record videos during a concert or event. Video recordings and photography are permitted for private purposes only on the Plaza and in the foyers as well as before the start or following an event in the concert hall, provided that you respect the privacy of other visitors and do not interfere with regular business operations. Employees may not be photographed or filmed.

Photography, audio or video recordings of concerts and events are strictly prohibited.

Event-related video recordings or photographs for editorial or commercial purposes must be authorised by the Press Office of the Elbphilharmonie.
Accessibility

All halls and spaces are accessible for visitors with disabilities. More information at www.elbphilharmonie.de/en/accessibility.

Lifts to the Plaza are located in the tunnel on the right-hand side of the Tube (long escalator). From the Plaza, access to the Grand and Recital Hall foyers is via lifts, also located to the right. Please note: cloakrooms for visitors to the Grand Hall are only located on the 11th floor. From there, the upper floors can be accessed via further lifts.

Also the 5th floor of the Kaispeicher is fully accessible. Please use the lifts from the multi-storey car park to the 6th floor and ring the bell at the rear entrance. The toilets can be reached by lift from the 5th and 6th floors.
Coughing, clapping, chatting – Tips for your concert visit

A concert at the Elbphilharmonie is a unique experience for both audience and artists. Guests and musicians alike rave about the precise acoustics in the Grand Hall. You can hear every note, even from the highest balcony.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: even presumably quiet noises from the audience are clearly audible in the entire hall. We therefore ask our visitors to take the following recommendations into consideration: Tips for your concert visit