Name: 8. Dresden Choir Day
Start: 2026-06-07T18:00:00
Location: Palace of Culture

Gunter Berger

Dresdner Philharmonie

Raphael Attila Vogl demonstrates the diverse sounds of the organ in a program that brings works from Bach to Bruckner to life through impressive transcriptions. The opening piece is Carl Maria von Weber's Overture to "Der Freischütz," which surprises with dramatic contrasts and a romantic sound ideal - in the version for organ, it unfolds with an almost orchestral force. Johann Sebastian Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto in G major, originally intended for strings, becomes a virtuosic challenge in the organ transcription, emphasizing the clarity and brilliance of the Baroque period. With an excerpt from Max Reger's String Quartet in E-flat major, Vogl adds a chamber music touch that preserves the sonic intimacy of the original while exploring the vastness of the instrument. The conclusion is the finale from Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 - a monumental work whose transcendent power gains even more grandeur in the organ arrangement. Invited by the Dresden Philharmonic.

Bach Reger Bruckner

Palace of Culture

Our Easter concert brings together masterpieces that radiate lightness, elegance, and a connection to nature. Sergei Prokofiev's "Classical Symphony" opens the evening with charm and wit. Inspired by Haydn, Prokofiev wrote a symphony that combines tradition with modernity - airy, clear, and full of surprising twists.

Classical music for Easter

What happens when classical meets jazz? George Gershwin achieved exactly that with his "Concerto in F." A concert that sounds like New York in the 1920s: vibrant, pulsating, full of energy. Gershwin, a true jazz prodigy, became an overnight star with his piece "Rhapsody in Blue." But with the "Concerto in F," he proved that he could not only write for the stage and clubs but also for the concert hall. Right from the start, the piano takes the listeners on a rapid run, almost like a wild taxi ride through Manhattan. The music tells of everything that inspired Gershwin: jazz clubs in Harlem, crowds on Broadway, and the pure excitement of a city that never sleeps. It's a bit like a musical adventure: from cheerful melodies that invite you to sway along, to emotional passages that go straight to the heart. Gershwin shows that classical music can be anything – cool, captivating, and full of surprises.

abgeFRACKt: Two Worlds, one Groove

George Gershwin wrote his Concerto in F in 1925 amidst the pulsating New York City. The work combines the elegance of classical forms with the exuberant energy of jazz – a music reflecting the city itself: loud, vibrant, full of surprises. From the first drumbeat to the final cadenza, the concerto sparkles with joy of life. Gershwin knew how to tell stories – and Boris Giltburg, Artist in Residence, brings them to life. With his delicate balance of virtuosity and sensitivity to nuances, he unfolds the full color spectrum of this extraordinary work. With his First Symphony composed in 1935, William Walton holds up a mirror to its time of creation: between urgent rhythms and sonic depths, one can feel the restlessness of the 1930s – intense, dark, but also overwhelmingly beautiful. In the first three movements, a gripping blend of energy, drama, and melancholy unfolds – from dark intensity to delicate, lyrical moments. The final movement, completed later, brings about the triumphant resolution. The symphony is considered one of the most significant works in British music, impressing with its emotional depth and orchestral power.

Giltburg with Gershwin

It is rare for an instrument to bear the name of its inventor. Like the saxophone, which was first created in the early 1840s as an experiment for brass bands, but soon made the Frenchman Adolphe Sax world-famous. The success of the instrument was so great that gradually a whole family emerged: from the small sopranino (just 29 cm long) to soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone – up to the powerful bass instruments. They all share the golden yellow color of the shiny polished brass – and of course, the characteristic sound that makes the saxophone unique in jazz as well as on the concert stage. Grades 5-8

Saxophone!

At the center of the concert evening is the brilliant Jess Gillam, one of the most exciting musicians of our time. With her soprano saxophone, she combines technical virtuosity and charismatic stage presence like rarely seen. Two works put the saxophone in the spotlight: Dave Heath's "The Celtic" and James MacMillan's Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and String Orchestra. Both works are tailor-made for Jess Gillam. Heath's "The Celtic" combines Celtic melancholy with rhythmic energy, while MacMillan's work explores the boundaries of the instrument's timbres and expressive possibilities. His most famous is certainly the Ninth, but for many, Antonín Dvořák's Seventh Symphony is his best. This music feels rugged and melancholic, yet compact and strict. There is no superfluous note here, every motif is worked through, every counterpoint has something to say. No question: this is not cozy folk music from a Bohemian village tavern, but highly concentrated symphonic music in the spirit of Beethoven and Brahms.

Dvořák 7

In three short concerts, we show how versatile classical music can be. With Jess Gillam at the center, a musician who makes the saxophone shine like no other. Her energy and enthusiasm for music are absolutely contagious - even if you are not familiar with classical concerts so far.

Long Night of Theater

The wind players of the Dresden Philharmonic lead through various sound worlds: Richard Dubugnon's "Frenglish Suite" charmingly combines French elegance and British wit. Erkki-Sven Tüür's "Architectonics I," on the other hand, is a modern sound experiment - like an exciting architectural journey through music. György Orbán's Quintet impresses with rhythmic drive and Hungarian temperament, while James MacMillan's "Untold" touches with its intensity and emotionality. The conclusion is Carl Nielsen's Quintet, a masterpiece full of warmth, lightness, and typical Nordic melancholy.

Wind quintet

Bruckner's Second Symphony is often referred to as the "Symphony of Pauses." But do not worry: these pauses are not silent, but full of tension and give the music room to breathe. A music that was initially considered unplayable by contemporaries. The Vienna Philharmonic initially rejected the work, deeming it far too long. Bruckner shortened it, rented the large hall at the Musikverein at his own expense, rehearsed thoroughly with the orchestra - and was successful. And what a success it was, the applause of the premiere audience on October 26, 1773, seemed never-ending. Bruckner himself later referred to it as the "most memorable day of my life." Today, the symphony is somewhat overshadowed by its successors, but unjustly so. Everything that Bruckner enthusiasts appreciate: the grand arcs of tension, the delicate as well as the powerful moments, the abrupt pauses and new beginnings - they are all already present here. Christoph Eschenbach is considered a Bruckner specialist; that is why we have invited him to conduct it.

Eschenbach with Bruckner

Singing is fun and good for you. This is known by all children who sing in a choir - whether it's in the Philharmonic Children's Choir, the school choir, or elsewhere. And we want many more children to experience this! That's why we invite all school choirs to join us in singing in the concert hall. The sheet music will be provided in advance, and of course, there will be a rehearsal together before the concert. So just sign up and participate! Grades 1-5

Dresden school choirs sing

Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor is one of his most exciting works and, even 200 years after its creation, has lost none of its power. The key of D minor alone shows that this is not about light entertainment. This music tells of great emotions: drama, longing, and passion. He wrote the concerto at a time when he was exploring new paths with his music and bravely experimenting. Particularly impressive is the dialogue between the piano and the orchestra - sometimes they are adversaries, sometimes they merge together. The melodies are so captivating that they became famous even back then and still move people today. At the beginning, Malte Arkona introduces the concerto, and afterwards, you can ask your own questions during the After Concert Talk. So, a concert that not only allows you to listen but also to participate - an experience for all the senses!

Best of Classics: Mozart Piano Concerto

Mieczysław Weinberg's Sinfonietta No. 1 is a work full of lightness and accessibility. However, behind the optimistic sound lies a disturbing story. Composed in 1948, the piece was created in the midst of Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign. Officially celebrated as "bright and optimistic," it met political expectations without betraying Weinberg's progressive composition style. With hints of Jewish folk music, clever variations, and a touch of Shostakovich, it remains a fascinating balancing act between conformity and artistic freedom. Mozart's Piano Concerto KV 466 appears as a contrast, but in its key of D minor, it is also a work full of dramatic depth. Mozart wrote it during a time of personal upheaval and suffering. In a quasi-reconciliatory manner, the concert concludes with Glazunov's "The Seasons," bringing nature to life in vibrant orchestral colors.

Mozart and Glazunov

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!