Conductor

Idomeneo was Mozart’s first great opera, composed in 1781 by a 25-year-old genius as a festive commission for the Elector’s new theatre in Munich. Mozart’s creativity knew no bounds, and this extraordinary score places immense demands on both soloists and the grand opera chorus.

Idomeneo

The Royal Danish Theatre

An evening between eras, styles and masterpieces: Conductor Howard Arman, well known to the Halle audience through the reorganization of the Handel Festival Orchestra in 1993 and celebrated guest of the Staatskapelle – most recently in the New Year's Eve concert in 2023 – leads through a sonic journey of a special kind.

5th Symphony Concert

Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle

Christmas concert

Gewandhaus

The tradition of Christmas oratorios continues in Howard Arman's composition. The Revelation of James, a gospel that was not included in the Bible, reports events surrounding the birth of Christ that do not appear in Matthew and Luke. Mary, not Jesus, is the focus of a vivid, dramatic and almost theatrical narrative. Chorales and motets from the 17th century are woven into Arman's composition and form the musical responses to the events narrated. The Leipzig audience thus encounters Howard Arman once again as a composer. But his skills as an arranger are of course not neglected in this concert either, as his versions of popular Christmas carols always provide acoustic surprises, which are not without a good dose of English humor.

Christmas Concert

Sir Yehudi Menuhin once said about the power of vocal music: »In singing, we humans are creative and creative beings of sound. We have the ability to animate our world and our actions through singing, to give love, joy, hope and confidence, but also to sing the pain from our souls.« Last season, we experienced how much our audience loves to take part in a concert and to sing surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd – and we also love such enthusiastic and spine-tingling events. That’s why, after the great success of the sing-along concert, there is now a sequel, turning listeners into performers. Regardless of whether you already sing in an ensemble or just like to sing alone in the shower: we are again offering the stage for concentrated vocal power, a strong feeling of togetherness and lots of moments of happiness. Everyone is cordially invited to join in a huge choir of over 1,000 people and sing selected numbers from Handel’s popular oratorio »Messiah« at the top of their voices as well as wonderful Christmas songs in preparation for the festive season. They will be superbly supported by popular Bamberg-based professionals from the Bavarian Radio Choir and, of course, by our orchestral musicians – and Howard Arman will once again provide the musical finishing touches with his likeable style of witty and humorous announcements. It is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience with lots of fun, a catchy tune or two and balm for the soul – after all, Friedrich Schiller wrote the famous line in his poem about the »power of song«: »Every sorrow’s wrinkles disappear as long as the magic of song prevails.«

Conductor

Howard Arman

Events

Past events

May 28 - Jun 6, 2026

Idomeneo · Det Kongelige Teater

22 - 23 Feb, 2026

5th Symphony Concert · Staatskapelle Halle

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Der Messias by Mozart

Bamberger Symphoniker

Conductor in Idomeneo by Mozart

Det Kongelige Teater

Conductor in Invitation to the Dance by Weber

Staatskapelle Halle

Conductor in Symphony No. 7 by Beethoven

Staatskapelle Halle

Conductor in Ali Baba by Cherubini

Staatskapelle Halle

Conductor in Symphony No. 6 by Spohr

Staatskapelle Halle

About

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