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Everything sounds exceptional in this closing concert: the program, with its more than generous piano and delightful eclecticism; the spirit, resolutely chamber music yet concert-like, with direction from the keyboard; finally, the performers, loyal guests of the festival, joined together for an artistic collaboration that has shone throughout the season on the great stages of Europe. Subverting expectations, innovating in all styles and repertoires, the musicians of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Chinese pianist Yuja Wang share audacity, virtuosity, and freedom of tone. Their juxtaposition of Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Stravinsky promises an exhilarating and passionate journey from the Romantic century to the first bursts of the 20th century.

A star among stars, Yuja Wang will light up our Festival this season with her presence. A virtuoso well-known to music lovers, this exciting artist offers us not one, but two concertos in the same evening – and what concertos!

Two piano concertos in one evening? No problem for Yuja Wang! This evening, the exceptional pianist not only showcases the full range of virtuoso excellence in Chopin's Second Piano Concerto, but also goes one step further: In the second half, she also presents Tchaikovsky's opulent First Piano Concerto with its unmistakable opening melody. At her side: the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, which presents its broad musical spectrum and exquisite interpretations in this concert. We are once again pleased to welcome this renowned ensemble to the Rheingau Music Festival – a reunion at the Kurhaus Wiesbaden that we are very much looking forward to!

"Tempo isn't everything, but a certain energy must be created. It shouldn't sound comfortable," says Kian Soltani, referring also to Haydn's Cello Concerto in C major, which the artist in residence will play this evening with the renowned Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Whether lively and virtuosic or beautiful cantilena, this repertoire classic offers the cello star both; the orchestra complements it with two other audience favorites by Schumann and Mendelssohn.

What would a concert season at the Elbphilharmonie be without Igor Levit? The star pianist is one of the house's regulars, whether as a soloist, with a large orchestra, or in special programs such as his concert "Against Silence - Against Antisemitism" in autumn 2024. Now he returns with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the internationally renowned ensemble that confidently embarks on a cheerful performance of Shostakovich and Beethoven without a conductor.

Like few other orchestras, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra represents the unique unifying power of music. With members from 25 nations, organized as a democratic collective in which every voice counts, it is only too happy to collaborate with soloists for whom cosmopolitanism and freedom of expression are equally important. A dedicated musician like Igor Levit is therefore the ideal partner for the MCO! When a piano concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven, for whom freedom of artistic expression was always his highest priority, is also on the program, it is clear that making music together takes on a political dimension. And Franz Schubert's "Great" Symphony in C major also fits perfectly into this cleverly conceived program: After all, his large-scale orchestral work was modeled on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony – the ultimate work of freedom!

One of the most dynamic pianists of our time, Yuja Wang performs with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, renowned for its passion and exceptional artistry. Together, they promise an unforgettable evening of powerful music-making, showcasing the depth and excitement of this extraordinary collaboration.

The Times once enthusiastically described Håkan Hardenberger as "the best trumpeter in the galaxy" after a concert. Whether it's a classic concerto by Johann Nepomuk Hummel or new works by composers like Mark-Anthony Turnage, the Swede breathes life into the music with his trumpet, this time accompanied by the renowned Mahler Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Harding.