Name: The 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Start: 2026-12-06T16:00:00
Location: Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony is not just a masterpiece of Romanticism, but also an early example of the "Nordic style" – a sound ideal that also permeated the music of Sibelius, Grieg, and Brahms. In keeping with this, artists from the north will be presenting today’s concert: Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich, who began his university training in Karlsruhe at the age of eleven, Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.

Romantic Scotland

Richard Wagner's redemption operas continually invite new interpretations. Joana Mallwitz was already deeply involved with the composer's oeuvre during her time as General Music Director in Nuremberg. Director and musician Johannes Erath will stage the Baden-Baden Lohengrin production. He began his directing career as an assistant to Willy Decker, worked at the Semperoper in Dresden among other venues, and has been awarded the Götz Friedrich Prize and the Austrian Music Theater Prize.

Richard Wagner: Lohengrin

Mozart was convinced that his piano quintet was his most perfect work. Pieces for the piano were especially personal for him – but here his beloved woodwinds are included as well. The young Beethoven was also captivated by Mozart's work and responded with his own wind quintet.

Mozart & Beethoven

When Hélène Grimaud and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra perform Johannes Brahms’s First Piano Concerto and Robert Schumann's A-minor Concerto side by side in Baden-Baden, it is not by chance: both works revolve around the personage of Clara. It will be an evening remembering Robert, Clara, and Johannes – the latter two having lived within 800 meters of each other in their adopted home of Baden-Baden.

Hélène Grimaud

Anton Bruckner spoke to the conductor Arthur Nikisch about divine visions – perhaps this is a key to understanding his mystical choral motets? Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is also no stranger to periods of retreat and inner contemplation. Both composers transport their listeners to another world. In this program, their music will be combined with probably the best-known organ work of all time: Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Soundscapes

Stiftskirche

In Amsterdam, every Easter week begins with a performance of one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passions. After Willem Mengelberg, Bernard Haitink, and Mariss Jansons, new chief conductor designate Klaus Mäkelä is now continuing this tradition. The role of the Evangelist will be sung by Maximilian Schmitt, that of Christ by Matthew Brook, the two artists representing the German and British interpretations of great Baroque oratorios. In Amsterdam, both performance traditions merge into their own oratorio heritage, which we can now also experience in Baden-Baden.

J. S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion

Brahms and women: this is a chapter in itself. The composer was notorious for abruptly ending relationships, and the woman in question often found her way into his music. In this case, it was the singer and short-time fiancée Agathe von Siebold. In his String Sextet, Brahms immortalized her name – a yearning call with the notes A–G–A–D–H–E.

Dvořák & Brahms

The Baden-Baden Casino

At the age of 15, violinist Daniel Lozakovich signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. He will perform Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, one of the most popular concertos of the 19th century. In the second half of the concert, Klaus Mäkelä and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will interpret Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5. The Concertgebouw Orchestra has one of the longest Mahler traditions in the world. It was the first orchestra to popularize Mahler's works in Europe and continues to cultivate this tradition to this day.

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Schubert's Famous Octet is music written for friends – who must also have been outstanding musicians, since the work often makes the highest technical demands on the performers. The listener shouldn’t be misled by the pastoral key of F major: Schubert wouldn’t be Schubert if he didn’t repeatedly take his seemingly easygoing music down somber paths.

Schubert

"Christ, you Lamb of God" – every churchgoer knows this chorale. In his Mutations from Bach, American composer Samuel Barber presents this melody in several variants – including in Bach's original arrangement, but here in a version for brass. First on the program, we will hear the blazing fanfare from the ballet La Péri. The brass section of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra will then present a selection of works for this exceptional ensemble.

Late Night Brass

Enthusiastic audience, horrified critics: this sums up the reactions to the premiere of Anton Bruckner's Eighth Symphony. Today, the symphony is considered one of the most important monuments of musical art. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra made Amsterdam a mecca for Bruckner fans. Klaus Mäkelä looks forward to continuing this tradition, bringing along the magnum opus of the Austrian court organist and Wagner admirer for the orchestra's debut at the Baden-Baden Easter Festival.

Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 8

Famous classical hits galore – presented by a cult ensemble consisting of 100% cellos! Music to relax to, presented by the Concertgebouw Orchestra's renowned cello section. Our tip: reserve your tickets well in advance!

Pure Cello

An unforgettable performance in Tokyo: Rudolf Weinsheimer, founding member of the ensemble, addresses Emperor Akihito, himself a cellist and regular concertgoer, in Japanese. When he speaks to him directly, the entire audience rises. Since their founding in 1972, the 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker have been sought after worldwide. With a repertoire ranging from classical music to jazz, tango, and even the Beatles, they inspire their fans – from children to emperors.