The WDR Funkhausorchester invites audiences on an extraordinary journey through time and genre with a line-up of captivating events this season. From the thrilling notes of George Gershwin on New Year's Eve to a jazzy tribute to Keith Jarrett, and an enchanting Disney a cappella recital, these performances are set to mesmerize. Whether you're a fan of classical, jazz, or pop, the orchestra promises a rich tapestry of sound that effortlessly blends tradition with innovation. Join us as we explore these remarkable events and what makes them truly unforgettable.

A Symphony of Seasons: WDR Funkhausorchester's Spectacular Musical Journey

The WDR Funkhausorchester is offering an eclectic blend of musical events that traverse genres and eras, captivating audiences with romantic melodies, jazz tributes, and musical fusions. From the classic charm of ABBA and Disney to the passionate beats of Argentine tango, the orchestra is set to deliver an engaging lineup, celebrating the universal language of music. Audiences can look forward to performances by renowned artists, ensuring an unforgettable experience at every concert.

A Symphony of Styles: Exploring Music's Many Faces with WDR Funkhausorchester

The WDR Funkhausorchester promises a spectacular series of events that traverse musical history, literature, and film through nine unique performances. From the Baroque influences in 'Baroque to Beatles: A Music History' to the enchanting tunes of Disney classics with 'The King's Singers - 100 Years Of Disney', these events promise to captivate audiences with their diverse themes and talented performances. With conductors like David Brophy and Ari Rasilainen leading the way, attendees are in for an unforgettable journey through the realms of sound and story.

WDR Funkhausorchester's Musical Odyssey: From Baroque to Disney Magic

Get ready for an exciting array of musical events brought to you by the WDR Funkhausorchester. From enchanting Disney classics performed by The King's Singers, the symphonic revival of ABBA hits, to the dramatic flair of Verdi's rarely performed 'Stiffelio', these events promise a rich tapestry of sounds. Dive into animal-inspired melodies or dance through the ages with vibrant rhythms. With maestros like Enrico Delamboye and vocalists such as Pretty Yende, these concerts are set to captivate audiences and celebrate diverse musical genres.

A Musical Odyssey with WDR Funkhausorchester: From Disney Classics to Argentine Tangos

Prepare to embark on a journey through opera's dramatic past, tango's fiery passion, and the heart-pounding thrill of Oscar-winning film scores. The KLANGVOKAL Music Festival and International Chorbiennale Aachen offer a vibrant showcase of performances that promise to captivate audiences with themes of love, betrayal, and artistic brilliance. From Verdi's rarely performed 'Stiffelio' to Palmeri's 'Misa Tango,' and a tribute to iconic film soundtracks, these events are a celebration of music's transformative power, brought to life by renowned artists and orchestras.

A Symphony of Drama, Passion, and Cinematic Magic: Highlights from KLANGVOKAL and Beyond

This summer, the WDR Funkhausorchester promises a musical journey like no other, with events ranging from ABBA symphonies to tango rhythms, and film music magic. Their diverse lineup, featuring world-class conductors and vocalists, is set to charm audiences across Germany, promising nights filled with nostalgia, drama, and passion. Whether you’re a fan of pop, opera, or cinematic scores, there’s something for everyone. Join us as we delve into the details of these exciting events and what makes each one truly special.

A Symphony of Sounds: Unveiling WDR Funkhausorchester's Upcoming Musical Extravaganza

Join the WDR Funkhausorchester as they embark on a vibrant and diverse musical journey in 2026. With a lineup featuring everything from iconic adventure film scores to the spirited rhythms of Irish folk, this season promises a captivating blend of genres and performances. Each event is an invitation to experience music's power and storytelling, as the orchestra collaborates with renowned conductors, soloists, and unique themes to bring the magic of live music to life in Cologne and beyond.

A Symphony of Stories: The WDR Funkhausorchester's 2026 Season

The WDR Funkhausorchester is set to delight audiences with a series of captivating musical events in 2026. From the soulful strains of Irish folk music to the vibrant rhythms of Cuban dance, this season promises a rich tapestry of genres and performances. Join renowned conductors and talented musicians as they navigate through a musical journey that pays homage to cultural icons, legendary operas, and the exuberant spirit of Eurovision. Each event is a celebration of diversity, bringing together a unique blend of classical precision and modern flair.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity: WDR Funkhausorchester's Musical Extravaganza

According to Rhenish customs laws, this collaboration has long since gone beyond the status of "tradition": The WDR Funkhausorchester will once again be browsing the bookshelves at lit.COLOGNE and exploring the most beautiful melodies between the covers.

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Special Guest: lit.COLOGNE

WDR Funkhaus

Ireland is not only world-famous for its delicious butter, the invention of chocolate milk, and extra-strong dark beer, but also for truly excellent musical exports. Together with its Irish chief conductor, David Brophy, the WDR Funkhausorchester performs classics of Irish music history – authentically with fiddle and bagpipes. From Ireland, they head to America with Shaun Davey's "Brendan Voyage Suite," and then tap-dance back to the Emerald Isle.

Irish Folk

When the red light comes on, adrenaline levels automatically rise – including in the audience. The popular WDR 4 show "Klassik Populär" returns live to the concert stage and presents your absolute favorite pieces!

WDR 4 Classic Popular Live

It takes a hero, a villain—and maybe a little romance on the side. The adventure film is one of the oldest genres on the big screen. From the radiant theme of redemption to the dark theme of danger, from "King Kong" to "Avengers"—the WDR Funkhausorchester dons the hero's cape and climbs the skyscrapers. Dominik Porschen and the "Cinema Strikes Back" team deliver the perfect stories for these big-screen adventures.

Adventure: Film Music!

What do the Beach Boys, Adele, and The Simpsons have in common? Hazel Brugger reveals it all – and together with the WDR Funkhausorchester, she'll get the Cologne Philharmonic Hall in the mood with her very own mixtape. The comedienne, slam poet, and presenter's playlist is a truly feel-good mix: Fast, beat-driven, and rhythmic, it transports us from the club to the current charts and back to our teenage bedrooms in the 1990s.

Hazel Brugger: My Mixtape

Museum Ludwig

While one digs out jazz records from his legendary archive on Saturday afternoons, the other unearths masterpieces and rarities from the classical world every Sunday: For ten years, Götz Alsmann and Daniel Hope have been revealing what moves their musical hearts on "WDR 3 Persönlich." They are now celebrating their anniversary together on stage – with the enthusiastic and diverse WDR Funkhausorchester on stage.

Alsmann and Hope - Personal

Philharmonic Essen

Rudolf Oetker Hall

Violin bows in position, trombones in position – and the race against time begins! From London via Italy to Egypt, on to Yemen, to Calcutta, Hong Kong, Yokohama, New York, and back – all in 80 minutes of music. A sonorous adventure with the WDR Funkhausorchester, in the spirit of Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days."

Around the world in 80 minutes

The WDR Funkhausorchester wishes you a light, swinging Christmas! At this rousing Christmas party, Tom Gaebel, with his unmistakable, melting voice à la Frank Sinatra, will present the most beautiful Christmas evergreens, from "White Christmas" to "Jingle Bells" to "Let It Snow" – just the thing for anyone who wants to start the festive season in high spirits.

Swinging Christmas

The big Christmas karaoke sing-along at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall! From popular Christmas carols to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker with a video story, to live Christmas songs created by and featuring YouTube star Marti Fischer—there's no better way to get into the Advent and Christmas season!

Christmas with a difference: X-mas Sing Along | WDR@Philharmonie

The elephant is celebrating his 50th birthday! Together with Anke, André, the rabbit, and the WDR Funkhausorchester, we'll be preparing the birthday party with you. Accompanied by lots of wonderful music, we'll search for the best party games, bake cakes, and decorate the stage.

The Concert with the Elephant

It makes your hair stand on end: The violins bite your ears when Norman Bates reaches for his knife in the famous shower scene in the legendary Hitchcock film "Psycho." No wonder: The string score not only states "fortissimo" but even "brutale"! A movie night with live music that really gets under your skin.

Alfred Hitchcock: Psycho

Culture and Congress Center Jahrhunderthalle GmbH

Amare

Konzerthaus Dortmund

Trick or treat with Shaun the Sheep! Together with the WDR Funkhausorchester, Shaun, Jana, and André perform spooky dances, listen to exciting sounds, and show you the role music plays in a truly scary movie experience.

Shaun the Sheep - The Concert

The dream factory of Hollywood was an important refuge for many prominent composers during the fascist regimes in Europe. Erich Wolfgang Korngold, among others, quickly made a name for himself in the new genre of film music—he lived the "American Dream" under palm trees in LA. The WDR Funkhausorchester presents music by the exile and music by his American colleagues Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and George Gershwin.

Guest performance Bratislava

Bratislava Reduta

From street singer to the most famous chansonette of all time: With her mighty voice, Edith Piaf set the pain of her life to music in immortal songs like "La vie en rose" and "Non, je ne regrette rien." With a generous dose of nostalgia and melancholy, the WDR Funkhausorchester and singer Vladimir Kornéev pay tribute to the grande dame of chanson in this concert.

La vie en Piaf

Parktheater Iserlohn

And the winner is... In this concert, the WDR Funkhausorchester focuses on Oscar-winning film music. Breathtaking suspense, unforgettable adventures and, of course, great emotions with unforgettable soundtracks by legendary composers such as John Williams, Alan Menken and John Barry - a magical evening that will make the hearts of all film fans beat faster.

The Magic Of Movies

Cologne Philharmonie

Burgtheater Dinslaken

Kurhaus Wiesbaden GmbH

And the winner is… In this concert, the WDR Funkhausorchester focuses on Oscar-winning film music. Breathtaking suspense, unforgettable adventures and, of course, great emotions with unforgettable soundtracks by legendary composers such as John Williams, Alan Menken and John Barry – a magical evening that will make the hearts of all film fans beat faster.

Immerse yourself in the lively and passionate music of Argentina - with favorite pieces by Astor Piazzolla and the rousing " Misa a Buenos Aires " by Martín Palmeri . The great voices of the WDR Radio Choir meet the joy of playing of the strings of the WDR Funkhausorchester: a summer festival for the senses!

Misa Tango: Argentine Fire | International Chorbiennale Aachen

Love and betrayal, death and forgiveness – Giuseppe Verdi's "Stiffelio" is full of drama. Too much for the censorship authorities, who banned the first version of the opera before its premiere in 1850. It was not until over 100 years later that the original scores, thought to be lost, were rediscovered in Naples. The audience can expect an exciting encounter with a rarely performed early work by the great Italian opera composer.

Stiffelio | KLANGVOKAL Music Festival Dortmund

The mouse invites you to dance: whether hip-hop, waltz or salsa, whether from today, the 80s or a hundred years ago - there are new, lively and rhythmic dance songs on the program for young and old. Dancing and good mood guaranteed!

Dance with the Mouse

From cats and mice to dogs and wolves – "Animals Looking for a Home" presenter Simone Sombecki and the WDR Funkhausorchester explore the musical world of animals. The audience can expect favorite melodies from "Cats" to "Dances with Wolves" – a fun-filled evening is guaranteed!

Animals are looking for an orchestra

From "Mamma Mia" to " Dancing Queen ": The rousing hits of the Swedish pop icons make hearts dance. The WDR Funkhausorchester brings back the splendor of the ABBA era and lets the band's greatest successes shine anew in symphonic light.

Thank You For The Music: ABBA Symphonic

"Snow White", " Mary Poppins ", "The Lion King" - timeless soundtracks that have enchanted generations of fans . Nostalgia and great emotions are guaranteed when the legendary a cappella sextet The King's Singers and the WDR Funkhausorchester take the audience on a fairytale journey through the most beautiful Disney melodies.

The King's Singers - 100 Years Of Disney

Hardly any figure in literary history is as closely linked to music as Orpheus. The musician's sounds could tame animals, touch gods and soften the hearts of the dead. Together with the great literary figure Elke Heidenreich, the WDR Funkhausorchester follows in the footsteps of the Greek hero who inspired countless writers and composers. With music from Offenbach to Reinhard Mey, the evening promises a fusion of literature and music, poetic impulses and sonic discoveries.

In Orpheus' footsteps - with Elke Heidenreich | lit.COLOGNE

Tchaikovsky's Sugar Plum Fairy is hanging up her pointe shoes - she's now competing to swing with Uwaga! The crossover quartet brings baroque minuets to a groove and introduces Mahler and Mozart to disco heroes. The WDR Funkhausorchester ventures onto the dance floor with the four border crossers - a crazy, anarchic foray into music history.

Baroque to Beatles: A Music History

Recorded in 1975 at the Cologne Opera, Keith Jarrett's "Cologne Concert " remains one of the most influential albums in jazz history. To mark the 50th anniversary, the WDR Funkhausorchester and pianist Stephan Görg are celebrating the crossover artist between styles with a concert that takes the audience on a creative journey through Jarrett's world of ideas.

Cologne Concert: A Keith Jarrett Tribute

Municipal Stage House Wesel

Hearts beat faster on Valentine's Day: In collaboration with young talents from the Forum Conducting, the WDR Funkhausorchester plays the most beautiful romantic melodies from opera, operetta, film and musical.

WDR 3 Lunch Concert

"I kiss your hand, Madame!" Let yourself be infected by the sound of the 1920s: With lusty waltzes, lively foxtrots and favorite operetta music by Kurt Weill, Paul Abraham and Eduard Künneke, the WDR Funkhausorchester floats across the dance floor. Carefree lightness for the dark season!

Featherlight - The Swinging Twenties

Funkhaus Cafe-Bar-Restaurant

It's not just the champagne corks that pop at the turn of the year: Makoto Ozone and the WDR Funkhausorchester transform the stage into a dazzling cosmos of sound with masterpieces by George Gershwin. From "Rhapsody in Blue" to rousing Broadway hits - a musical fireworks display to usher in the new year!

New Year's Eve concert

From "Hansel and Gretel" to a wild sleigh ride to the most popular German Christmas classics: With brilliant melodies and festive compositions, the WDR Funkhausorchester warms hearts and gets you in the mood for the most wonderful time of the year.

moments of glory

The Mouse invites you to a big dance party! Because at this concert, you'll not only hear lively music, but you'll also have a real dance party. So – throw your arms in the air and look forward to a fantastic dance experience.

Dance with the mouse

Sometimes a boisterous party, sometimes a voice of reason – always a catalyst for emotions: The choir, with its powerful sound, has a special function on stage. Famous examples from the opera world include Verdi's "Prisoners' Chorus" and the "Anvil Chorus" from "The Troubadour." But musicals also have a lot to offer in terms of captivating choral parts. The WDR Radio Choir and WDR Funkhaus Orchestra present the most beautiful choirs from musicals and operas – from "Nabucco" to "Carmen," from "Les Misérables" to "The Phantom of the Opera."

Opera meets musical – the most beautiful choirs

"Twelve Points! Douze Points!" For 70 years, all of Europe has been thrilled at the Eurovision Song Contest. And it's not always just the winning songs that have stuck in people's minds and climbed the charts; after all, "miracles happen again and again!" The WDR Funkhausorchester celebrates winning songs like "Waterloo" and "Satellite" to mark the anniversary, recalling shrill and quirky performances and playing songs that made history – regardless of the number of points they earned.

Rise Like A Phoenix: ESC hits in concert

A sonic dance between Cuba and classical music. "Danzón Cubano" is a blend of Marialy Pacheco on the piano, the WDR Funkhausorchester, and melodies that preserve the authentic Latin American sound while immersing classics in new color palettes. A Cuban lifestyle in the heart of Cologne!

Cuban Dance

Bayer Erholungshaus

Overflowing emotions, blossoming nature—and budding love: The merry month of May has always inspired composers to flights of fancy. While Schumann and Mozart languish with restraint in their famous May compositions, Frederick Loewe is more explicit with his "Lusty Month of May." The WDR Funkhaus Orchestra is already preparing the May punch!

WDR 3 Lunch Concert: Spring Fever

This subject simply has everything for a gripping opera: courtly intrigue, deception, secret identities, and revelations. "La Favorite" is a story about the scandalous love between a king and his mistress—and about the honest love between the mistress and a young monk. A masterpiece by Gaetano Donizetti, it combines the high art of French opera with Italian bel canto.

La Favorite | KLANGVOKAL Music Festival Dortmund

Rock is more than just a musical genre – the attitude to life of entire generations is preserved between hard riffs and raspy vocals. When drums, bass, and guitar are joined by strings and brass, an energetic rock party is guaranteed. The WDR Funkhausorchester plays classics from music history, from the Rolling Stones to Queen, from Metallica to AC/DC – and proves that even an orchestra can rock! The musicians are supported by singer Alex Melcher – who has demonstrated his great rock voice for many years in leading roles in shows such as "We Will Rock You" and "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Rocking Classics | Rheingau Music Festival

Castillo de Johannisberg

What would the LGBTQIA+ community be without its musical icons like Elton John and Freddie Mercury? For Cologne Pride, the WDR Funkhausorchester celebrates the anthems of the queer scene—from great classics to current musical milestones from Lady Gaga to Taylor Swift.

WDR Funkhausorchester

Mar 27 - Jun 28, 2026

Dance with the mouse

Apr 24, 2026

Opera meets musical – the most beautiful choirs

1 - 2 May, 2026

Rise Like A Phoenix: ESC hits in concert

15 - 17 May, 2026

Cuban Dance

May 22, 2026

WDR 3 Lunch Concert: Spring Fever

Mar 13, 2026

Special Guest: lit.COLOGNE

6 - 7 Mar, 2026

Irish Folk

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WDR Funkhausorchester