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Immerse yourself in the lively and passionate music of Argentina - with favorite pieces by Astor Piazzolla and the extraordinary Tango Nuevo setting of mass texts by the composer and pianist Martín Palmeri. Under the direction of the true Argentinian Mariano Chiacchiarini, the great voices of the WDR Radio Choir and soloist Agnes Lipka meet the playful string players of the WDR Funkhaus Orchestra. Dream of the sound of the streets of Buenos Aires, revel in the passion of tango with the sounds of the bandoneon - a real summer festival for the senses!

On October 25, 1825, Johann Strauss (son) was born into a musical family near Vienna and, during his lifetime, became the first pop star in music history as the “Waltz King.”

The Frenchman Pierre Boulez and the American Elliott Carter met for the first time in Paris in the early 1950s. A friendship for life immediately developed between these composers. The Ensemble Musikfabrik and Bas Wiegers now commemorate these two important composers of modernism with cult pieces of new music. And one of the soloists is pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, who owes a lot to Boulez and Carter.

Is Shostakovich facing further disaster? Three days after the premiere of his tenth symphony, the Soviet Composers' Union is discussing whether the work is too modern, too old-fashioned or too critical - after all, the composer had been ostracized by Soviet cultural policy a few years earlier. But the committee missed the grim satire with which Shostakovich ironically expressed his anger at Stalinism. Brahms' Violin Concerto, on the other hand, is presented in a sunnier light - a true celebration of the violin sound in close integration with the orchestra and a rhythmically well-seasoned "Hungarian" finale, performed by world star Hilary Hahn. This program was put together by Cristian Măcelaru, who is using this evening to celebrate his departure as chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra after six years.

In his work "The Creation", Joseph Haydn brings to life in an impressive way the creation and miraculous origins of the world and mankind described in the Bible. The predominantly beautiful things that Haydn illuminates in his oratorio, which premiered in Vienna in 1798, seem almost utopian to us today. While we are surrounded by crises and environmental disasters today, Haydn's wonderful music can uplift us with its wit and virtuosity and remind us of the reason for our existence.

Gustav Mahler and Arnold Schönberg met for the first time in Vienna in 1903. A friendly friendship immediately developed. These pioneers of modernism meet again in the program of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. The Korean Unsuk Chin will perform a concert suite from her successful opera "Alice in Wonderland."

Cologne's celebrated rock band Kasalla will repeat an extraordinary musical project in 2025: »Nit esu laut«.

And the winner is… In this concert, the WDR Funkhausorchester focuses on Oscar-winning film music. Breathtaking suspense, unforgettable adventures and, of course, great emotions with unforgettable soundtracks by legendary composers such as John Williams, Alan Menken and John Barry – a magical evening that will make the hearts of all film fans beat faster.