Symphoniker Hamburg / Jonathan Stockhammer

The concert opens with Jean Sibelius’ »The Oceanides«, evoking the majestic restlessness of the sea. In shimmering layers of sound, the Finnish composer lets the water breathe – mysterious, powerful, infinite. Nature here is no mere backdrop; it is a living, breathing presence. The human becomes a silent observer at the shoreline.

Aaron Copland’s suite »Appalachian Spring« – originally composed as a ballet about a young pioneer couple – tells a story of hope, renewal, and trust. With a musical language that is both clear and deeply touching, Copland creates an atmosphere of profound gratitude: for the vastness of the land, the rhythms of life, and the quiet consolation of music.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s »Pastoral Symphony» – his Sixth – concludes the program with a vision of nature that is both personal and universal. Birdsong, a murmuring brook, a thunderstorm, and a village celebration: Beethoven transforms everyday nature into a radiant musical homage, revealing the preciousness of the seemingly ordinary.

On the podium is Jonathan Stockhammer, a conductor equally at home in both European and American musical traditions—making him the perfect guide for this transatlantic musical journey.