Numerous international orchestras and classical music stars are guests. (Archive image) Thomas Müller/dpa
This year’s Hamburg International Music Festival has the motto “Future”. The guests at the renowned festival from May 1st to June 6th include not only the top orchestras from Vienna, Munich, Rome, London, Budapest and Chicago, but also many of the most important artists of our time, the organizers announced . The soloists include audience favorites such as Lisa Batiashvili, Janine Jansen, Camilla Nylund, Joshua Bell, Sol Gabetta, Igor Levit, Daniil Trifonov, Mitsuko Uchida, Seong-Jin Cho and András Schiff.
“Every year, the Hamburg International Music Festival gives the performing musicians the space to realize very special projects and programs,” said Elbphilharmonie director Christoph Lieben-Seutter. The musicians play in the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle.
One focus is on the visionary music of the composer Pierre Boulez, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday next year. Kent Nagano and the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra play his masterpiece “Répons” at the opening. Iván Fischer conducts Gustav Mahler’s opulent “Resurrection Symphony” with his Budapest Festival Orchestra, Alan Gilbert conducts two performances of Alban Berg’s groundbreaking opera of the century “Wozzeck” in the Elbphilharmonie.
Guest 1: András Schiff, World-renowned pianist and conductor
Guest 2: Kent Nagano, Music director of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra
Section 1: Introduction to the Hamburg International Music Festival and its significance
Interviewer: Welcome, Mr. Schiff and Mr. Nagano. We’re honored to have you on our show today. Could you please introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about your role in this year’s Hamburg International Music Festival?
Guest 1: I am András Schiff, and I am very pleased to be performing in this year’s Hamburg International Music Festival. As a pianist, I will be playing the last piano sonatas of Beethoven and I’m also giving a chamber music recital with the Hagen Quartet.
Guest 2: Hello, I am Kent Nagano. I’m the music director of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, and I will be conducting the opening concert of the festival. We’ll be performing Pierre Boulez’s masterpiece “Répons.”
Interviewer: Thank you for that. Can you tell us more about the theme for this year’s festival, “Future”? What does it signify, and how does it reflect the program?
Section 2: The theme of “Future” and its reflection in the festival program
Guest 1: Well, the future for me means a new generation of composers and performers, and it’s important to look back at the past masters to understand how we got here. The festival program includes works by both legendary composers like Beethoven and new, innovative ones like Pierre Boulez, who was influential in shaping the contemporary music scene.
Guest 2: Absolutely. The theme “Future” represents not only the new program but also the future of classical music and the artists who are shaping it. It’s an exciting time for us as musicians to explore new repertoire and push the boundaries of our craft.
Interviewer: That’s fascinating. The lineup of guest performers and orchestras is impressive. How do you choose which artists and orchestras to invite to the festival each year?
Section 3: Selection process for guest artists and orchestras
Guest 2:
