Name: MacMillan and Choir
Start: 2026-05-09T19:00:00
Location: Palace of Culture

James MacMillan

Dresdner Philharmonie

Grigory Sokolov is a legend. Describing him as one of the most significant pianists of the present day is not an assertion, but a widely confirmed fact. Critics of high standing admit that they lack the right words to describe his art. But perhaps one doesn't even need words, but rather be convinced by him directly. "Art is a parallel universe to reality," he says, and proves it in a unique way in each of his concerts. And as always, he keeps it exciting: he announces his programs at short notice. Thus, the anticipation of a reliably unforgettable concert experience can blend with the expectation of the unexpected when the pianist unfolds his magic touch with music from the Baroque, Viennese Classical, or Romantic periods. By invitation of the Dresden Philharmonic in cooperation with DK Deutsche Klassik.

Grigory Sokolov

Palace of Culture

Bach - Britten - Pärt - MacMillan: On the "Day of Liberation" on May 8th, we musically bridge to Great Britain with our Philharmonic Choirs and present a program that illuminates different musical approaches to themes such as peace, remembrance, and spirituality. In his "Sinfonia da Requiem," Benjamin Britten combines liturgical elements with his personal musical language. Created against the backdrop of World War II, the composition stands as a monument and plea for peace and humanity. Arvo Pärt's "Da pacem Domine" combines meditative calmness and a clear, simple aesthetic. Pärt's minimalist musical language elevates the Latin plea for peace into a timeless, universal dimension. However, the musical core of the concert consists of two works by our Composer in Residence, who also conducts. Particularly poignant are his "Cantos Sagrados." "When composing this piece, I wanted to create something that is both timeless and contemporary, both sacred and secular," he says. The result is a moving work for choir and orchestra that is particularly touching under his direction.

MacMillan and Choir

He played at one of the most spectacular weddings of recent years: for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The bride herself had called the then 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and asked him to play during the church service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle - and half the world watched him. Now he is our guest and fits perfectly into our unconventional concert with his unconventional appearance and artistic excellence! The program includes nothing less than a premiere! The cello concerto by Edmund Finnis will be heard for the first time in Europe on this evening - and you can be there.

abgeFRACKt: Cello Flow

At the center of the concert is the outstanding cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and works that highlight the versatility and radiance of English music through the centuries. Edmund Finnis' "Hymn", originally part of his string quartet "Aloysius" and arranged here for string orchestra, is inspired by William Byrd's setting of the hymn "Christe, qui lux es et dies". The music reflects the rising and setting of sunlight and combines the spiritual depth of the 16th century with Finnis' own musical language. With his cello concerto - a European premiere - Finnis explores the colorful range of expression of the cello in connection with a lively orchestral sound. William Lawes' "The Sunrise", a work from the English Early Baroque, captures the beauty and symbolism of a sunrise. Arthur Bliss' "A Colour Symphony" is finally inspired by the symbolic meanings of different colors. Here, musical and visual layers merge into a multifaceted interpretation of color and sound. Concert as part of the Dresden Music Festival.

 Symphony Concert The Explorer Kanneh-Mason - Dresden Philharmonic - Manze

Contemporary composers often struggle to become known to a wider audience. This is different for Jörg Widmann. Not only is he a celebrated clarinetist, but also perhaps the most performed living German composer. His "Con brio" is a captivating concert overture that captivates from the first second. With incredible dynamics and precise rhythm, Widmann unleashes a musical fireworks display. The virtuosity of the orchestra is also put to the test. On the other hand, Carl Maria von Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor is a masterpiece of Romanticism. The soloist becomes a storyteller here: especially the lyrically beautiful Adagio touches the soul... Weber's music impressively shows why the clarinet is one of the most expressive instruments. Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with its "Fate motif" - that compelling ta-ta-ta-taaa - is known to everyone, and yet it impresses anew every time. From the dark beginnings to the triumphant finale, Beethoven tells of struggle, hope, and victory. This symphony is a milestone in music history and an overwhelming final chord for this special concert evening.

Beethoven 5

Every instrument has its own color, every instrument has its own character. But which of the many instruments can laugh and cry, sob and rejoice - and thus comes very close to the human voice? Also Phili, our curious meerkat, has asked herself this and has taken a very close look in the orchestra cellar. She guesses the clarinet. I wonder if that's true? And how do you even play it? And what does this Carl Maria von Weber have to do with it, who spent many years in the summer in Dresden-Hosterwitz? Questions, all questions - to which Malte will surely find good answers.

phil to explore ...with the romantic clarinet

The Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado has repeatedly explored the fascinating world of the Amazon and captured its beauty and threats in images. Now he has enriched this photographic project with a musical encounter: Together with conductor Simone Menezes, he combines his images with the sounds composed by his compatriot Heitor Villa-Lobos in 1958 as a tribute to the Amazon. Simone Menezes arranged Villa-Lobos' opulent "Floresta do Amazonas" for orchestra and soprano, and Salgado matched each musical sequence with the appropriate photograph. "A perfect connection, almost as if Villa-Lobos' music was written for Salgado's photos," describes Simone Menezes the result. The Dresden Philharmonic, under the direction of Simone Menezes, performs Villa-Lobos' powerful Rainforest Suite, while following Salgado's precise dramaturgy, the corresponding photographic works are shown on the large screen.

Amazonia

It is a beautiful tradition: Dresden amateur choirs present themselves once a year in a concert at the Kulturpalast. Also this time, one can marvel at how diverse, skilled, and passionate singing in Dresden is on this occasion!

8. Dresden Choir Day

When Beethoven wrote his Fifth and final piano concerto in 1809, Vienna was besieged by Napoleon's troops. The sounds of war and economic uncertainty – his patron Archduke Rudolf had left the city – influenced the creation of the work. Beethoven composed a piano concerto with an exceptionally new form for the time, in which the soloist alternates between heroic and peaceful moments. Despite the difficult circumstances, the work does not reflect fatalism, but rather a solemn struggle for freedom and against oppression. Gustav Mahler's First Symphony also reflects intense personal experiences. His unhappy love for the singer Johanna Richter inspired him to create the "Songs of a Wayfarer," from which he incorporated motifs into the first and third movements of the symphony. In an emotional state of exception, Mahler completed the symphony in just six weeks. The premiere in Budapest in 1889 was met with incomprehension, prompting Mahler to revise the work multiple times. Today, it is among his most frequently performed symphonies.

Sir Donald with Mahler

All stops are pulled when organist Sebastian Heindl plays our Eule organ, demonstrating the versatility of his instrument with a virtuosic program. As a modern representative of the centuries-old Leipzig music tradition, Heindl opens his program with Bach. After warming up his fingers – and the audience – with the virtuosic cascades of the Toccata in F major, he leads through a mini-panorama of organ music, in which he also presents his own compositions. The thrilling conclusion is formed by Camille Saint-Saëns' "Danse macabre," arranged for organ by Heindl himself – dance-like, grotesque, and dizzyingly virtuosic.

Toccata

The Dresden Kreuzchor presents a diverse program that includes both a cappella works and compositions with Basso Continuo. A special highlight is the performance of Ēriks Ešenvalds' "Stars," an impressive choral work accompanied by the glass harmonica. The spherical sounds of the water-tuned glasses give the music an almost otherworldly dimension - calm and cosmic, simultaneously mysterious and spiritual. The sensitive words of the piece merge with the floating sounds to create an intense listening experience. In addition to this contemporary work, works from composers ranging from Schütz to Reger are also featured in the program, showcasing the versatility of the long-standing boys' choir.

Dresdner Kreuzchor at Kulturpalast

"Summer, Sun, Holiday Time" - Finally, summer is here! The Philharmonic Children's Choir Dresden, together with members of the Dresden Philharmonic, embark on an exciting journey in search of summer songs from around the world. "The sun is shining from the sky, beckoning us out into the green field, beckoning us out to the meadow where flowers bloom in colorful hues." Songs from near and far countries tell captivating stories and get us in the mood for summer vacation. Old, familiar as well as new and unknown melodies fill the hall and surely invite everyone to sing along - because singing together brings joy and good spirits.