3. Philharmonic Concert »Magical«

In this concert, we present a magical blend of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera Hänsel und Gretel and the world’s most famous love story.

The particular charm of this opera lies in its melodies, which are so catchy that they have become folk songs. This medley of melodies is organically woven into the overture, which opens this concert evening.

Whilst Hänsel and Gretel enjoy a happy ending, the love story of Romeo and Juliet ends in tragedy. But it is precisely this tragic intertwining of love and death that has made Shakespeare’s drama immortal. Sergei Prokofiev achieved a stroke of genius in setting this story to such inspired music. For decades, it has been celebrated by ballet lovers and concertgoers alike – for its meltingly beautiful melodies, its dynamic and virtuosic dances, and its powerful rhythms. This evening, we shall perform some of the most beautiful excerpts from this masterpiece.

Even more poignant is Alfred Schnittke’s Viola Concerto, which premiered in 1986. With its moving, sombre timbres, it exudes a special existential depth. It is one of the most demanding viola concertos of the 20th century, performed here by »Artist in Residence« Amihai Grosz.

This concert evening’s host is a conductor who enjoys the highest international acclaim as both a concert and opera conductor. Chinese-New Zealand musician Tianyi Lu is currently enjoying a meteoric rise to international fame. Having won first prizes in both the Sir Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition and the »Guido Cantelli« International Conducting Competition in 2020, she is now in high demand among leading orchestras in Europe, the USA and Australia. With her poetic and virtuosic interpretations, she captivates critics and audiences worldwide. Another defining feature of her work: Tianyi Lu is deeply committed to diversity, inclusion and social change through the arts.