A Song for Peace

Tobacco Quarter Hall 1

Summer 1889. Antonín Dvořák escapes the hustle and bustle of the concert season and retreats to rural Vysoká. Nature, idyll, and tranquility await him here. Inspired by this environment, he quickly composes his Eighth Symphony – rich in color, full of freshness, and energy. Nature also plays a major role in Konstantia Gourzi's Message Between Trees. "I have learned to love trees," writes the composer, who was awarded the Opus Klassik in 2023. She felt their soothing power and a longing to embrace them. Here, nature becomes sound, a message. Her viola concerto "Ishaón, The Angel in the Golden Garden" was born out of a spiritual experience. It is part of a series of works dedicated to angels. Who better to premiere this premiere than Nils Mönkemeyer? The world-class violist is a transcendent explorer and a passionate ambassador of his instrument. The stage is set for sound, nature, and visions.

Konstantia Gourzi & Dvořák: Symphony No. 8

The Bell, Bremen

The evening's program is framed by two works for the ensemble of piano, viola and clarinet, an ensemble for which Mozart was the first to write a work back in 1786, which was to have a significant impact on the spread of the clarinet as a classical instrument. It was a fairly new instrument in Mozart's time, but quickly found its place as a fully integrated and widely used instrument in both orchestral and chamber music.

Sabine Meyer, Nils Mönkemeyer & William Youn

Mogens Dahl Koncertsal

In this concert, we bring together four outstanding musicians who, together, embrace the Classical era and perform rarely heard chamber music works. The resulting program presents the great geniuses of Viennese Classicism – namely Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven – in all their facets. The four virtuosos of this evening are united not only by their love of chamber music, but also by the fact that they are all part of the festival family, some for a long time. In trio or quartet, the four explore the music of the three great Classical composers, enveloping the Fürst-von-Metternich-Saal in the splendor of bygone Viennese times.

Ana de la Vega, flute Veronika Eberle, violin Nils Mönkemeyer, viola Maximilian Hornung, cello

Schloss Johannisberg

Gala concert with classical hits by Elgar, Haydn, Strauss, Brahms and others.

Schleswig-Holstein Proms

Holstenhallen

The morning after, the celebration continues, with flicking through the bulging photo album. Joined by NDR Kultur presenter Anna Novák, the artists look back on 35 colorful years at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival. In a friendly atmosphere, they reminisce about fantastic concerts, exciting encounters, and lots of fun both on and offstage. There will be cake, anecdotes, and the ultimate festival quiz.

Happy Birthday, Festival!

Schloss und Gut Ulrichshusen

This anniversary year, the now traditional theme weekend at Ulrichshusen Castle is dedicated to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival itself: the musicians who have shaped and continue to shape it, the adventures that the artists, team, and audience experience together, and, of course, the music itself. We look forward to two fantastic days with many award winners. They'll be saying "Happy Birthday" in chamber and orchestral music, in talk shows, and in late-night shows.

Great chamber music

In addition to Mönkemeyer's viola, a Lyra Polyversalis will also appear on stage this evening. It looks like a large guitar and can be bowed, plucked, and strummed. What lutenist Andreas Arend does with it and how he interacts with Nils Mönkemeyer can be wonderfully discovered in the Beidendorf village church. Works by Vivaldi and original compositions will be heard, with which the two exceptional musicians explore a dialogue between Baroque and jazz, as well as songs by Jimi Hendrix .

From Vivaldi to Hendrix

Dorfkirche Beidendorf

»What comes from the heart goes back to the heart. This is the true theory of music, sought by all true lovers and connoisseurs at all times, and will be sought until the end of the world.« Thus it is written in the »Basic rules of tonal order« from 1755 – and our concert leads us right into the 18th century. For the first time, we welcome Bernard Labadie to the conductor’s podium – one of the world’s leading specialists in the music of that period, loved by audiences and the press for his moving interpretations. The Canadian artist’s chosen programme includes enchanting works: Mozart’s Funeral Music, composed in 1785 to mark the deaths of two Masonic brothers. The »Jupiter« Symphony fascinates with a whole range of emotions as well as the grandiose finale – and was quickly celebrated as the »highest triumph of instrumental composition«. With William Youn as soloist, we play Beethoven’s highly popular first piano concerto from 1795/96, a refreshing piece with festive glamour, passionate lyricism and an high-spirited dance gesture at the end. But rarely heard repertoire is also on the programme this week: one of the rediscovered works by the German-Bohemian composer Antonio Rosetti, who was born 275 years ago. Nils Mönkemeyer has discovered the brilliant viola concerto – a rhythmically captivating and melodically catchy piece. We are looking forward to Bernard Labadie’s individual interpretation, as he is known for his great musical flair, his enjoyment of the works, his energetic conducting and his attention to detail.

Guest in Fürth

Stadttheater Fürth

EPSG:4326

Guest in Bayreuth

Margravial Opera House

To open the Mozart Festival in the baroque splendor of the Würzburg Residence, the Ensemble Resonanz with Riccardo Minasi will be performing Mozart's Symphony No. 35 "Haffner" as well as "Trame Lunari", a new work by Manfred Trojahn.

Mozart Festival Würzburg

Würzburg Residence

Wagner Mozart Elgar

Opernhaus Zürich

»This Mozart is rock ’n’ roll«, said the NDR about the recording of the last three Mozart symphonies by Ensemble Resonanz under its Principal Guest Conductor Riccardo Minasi. Symphony No. 35 »Haffner« is now on the programme with this level of energy.

resonances five »mmmmozart«

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

New Voices is Trio con Brio's new three-year concert series, which Aarhus Musikforening shares with Boulez-Saal Berlin and Diamanten in Copenhagen. Two of the concerts fall in the 25/26 season, and each concert program includes a world premiere, an important 20th-century piano trio, and one of the great piano quintets.

Nils Mönkemeyer

Events

Upcoming events

May 17, 2026

Trio con Brio - New Voices 2 · Musikhuset Aarhus

Past events

Feb 15, 2026

A Song for Peace · Bremer Philharmoniker

1 - 2 Feb, 2026

Konstantia Gourzi & Dvořák: Symphony No. 8 · Bremer Philharmoniker

Future and recently performed repertoire

Viola in Romanian Folk Dances by Bartók

Mogens Dahl Koncertsal

Viola in Serenade for flute, violin and viola by Beethoven

Rheingau Musik Festival

Viola in String Trio in C minor by Beethoven

Rheingau Musik Festival

Viola in Piano Quintet by Shostakovich

Musikhuset Aarhus

Viola in Piano Trio by Weinberg

Musikhuset Aarhus

Viola in String Sextet No. 1 by Brahms

Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Viola in Viola Concerto in G major by Rosetti

Bamberger Symphoniker

Viola in Trame lunari by Trojahn

Ensemble Resonanz

Viola in Concerto for Viola and Orchestra by Gourzi

Bremer Philharmoniker

Viola in A Song for Peace by Gourzi

Bremer Philharmoniker

About

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