February is set to be an exhilarating month for music enthusiasts in Germany as the Jena Philharmonie orchestrates a series of captivating events. From the soulful strains of orchestral and choral performances to innovative and experimental musical expressions, Jena will resonate with diverse sounds and artistic brilliance. Highlights include Chamber Concert No. 4, a captivating choral guest performance in Würzburg, and the intriguing Black Box series. Join us as we explore a month brimming with musical creativity, cultural exploration, and artistic collaboration.

Jena Philharmonie's February Festivities: A Symphony of Sounds and Surprises

March 2025 is set to be an exhilarating month for music lovers in Jena, Germany, as the Jenaer Philharmonie presents a series of captivating events. From the grandeur of the Philharmonieball 'A Ship of Dreams' to intimate chamber music sessions and family-friendly concerts, the lineup promises a rich tapestry of musical experiences. Featuring notable performances by esteemed artists and orchestras, this series will be hosted at various iconic venues, offering something for every type of music enthusiast. Whether you're a seasoned concertgoer or new to classical music, these events are bound to resonate with your soul.

March Melody: A Symphony of Events by Jenaer Philharmonie

The Jenaer Philharmonie is set to enchant music lovers with a series of captivating performances throughout June 2025. From the harmonious notes of a Boys' Choir to the intricate compositions of Mahler and Scartazzini, this musical journey offers something for everyone. Whether you're drawn to the emotive power of orchestral pieces or the intimate charm of chamber music, this month-long celebration in Jena promises an unforgettable auditory experience, blending classic and contemporary works with exceptional talent. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of this remarkable event lineup.

A Symphony of Diverse Melodies: Jenaer Philharmonie's June Extravaganza

As spring blossoms in Jena, the Jenaer Philharmonie unveils an impressive lineup of events blending classical and contemporary music. From the intimate Chamber Concerts to the vibrant orchestral showcases, audiences are invited to experience a range of performances featuring renowned artists and inspiring compositions. Highlights include the talents of Hasmik Karapetyan, Joseph Bastian, and iconic works from Shostakovich to Davis. This season promises a cultural feast for music lovers, redefining the concert experience in Jena's historical and modern venues.

A Symphony of Seasons: Highlights from Jenaer Philharmonie's 2025 Spring Lineup

May 2025 is shaping up to be a showcase of orchestral and choral excellence in Jena, Germany, thanks to the Jenaer Philharmonie. From intimate chamber music to grand choral performances, the organization's lineup this month features a captivating blend of classical masterpieces and contemporary creativity. Concert-goers can look forward to performances by talented musicians, unique collaborations, and even surprise programs. Join us as we explore the highlights of this musical journey, which promises to be a delightful experience for all classical music enthusiasts.

A Harmonious May: Celebrating the Jena Philharmonie's Diverse Musical Offerings

This June, music enthusiasts have a treat in store as Jenaer Philharmonie hosts a series of captivating events in Jena and the surrounding region. From the harmonious blend of choral works by Brahms and Schumann to the intricate piano performances by young prodigies, and the philosophical orchestral journey inspired by Mahler, the lineup is as diverse as it is enchanting. Join us in exploring the highlights of each event, the artists who bring these pieces to life, and the unique experiences awaiting attendees.

A Symphony of Events: Jenaer Philharmonie's Unmissable June Lineup

The Jenaer Philharmonie's 2025 calendar is a testament to its diverse musical prowess, featuring a series of compelling events that promise to captivate audiences with a blend of classical sophistication and modern celebration. From the intimate setting of chamber music to grand orchestral performances and even a unique opera-film fusion, the events are set in historic venues across Europe and Germany, showcasing the talents of notable artists and composers like Schumann, Beethoven, Mahler, and Scartazzini. With performances that range from the serene to the dramatic, this season is a vibrant celebration of musical excellence.

The Jenaer Philharmonie's 2025 Melodic Voyage: An Insightful Exploration of Music and Culture

The Jenaer Philharmonie, a distinguished German orchestra, is set to captivate audiences with an array of performances throughout 2025 and 2026. Featuring a mix of orchestral, choral, and recital genres, these events will see celebrated conductors like Simon Gaudenz and Tito Muñoz bring to life works by Shostakovich, Debussy, and more. From the engaging 'Coffee Concert № 3' with Daniel Spaw to the family-friendly KLUB reader concert, each event promises a unique musical journey. Join us as we delve into the artistry and creativity that make these performances truly special.

Exploring Musical Horizons: Jenaer Philharmonie's Diverse Performances

2026 promises to be a year of exhilarating performances by Jenaer Philharmonie, with a series of concerts that will captivate audiences of all ages. From the enchanting flute concertos by Ana de la Vega to the grand orchestral harmonies conducted by Simon Gaudenz and Tito Muñoz, there's a musical feast in store. Each event, from family-friendly gatherings to intimate chamber performances, showcases the finest works by legendary composers like Shostakovich, Strauss, and Schubert. Dive into the details of these enthralling musical events that highlight the diversity and richness of classical music.

A Symphony of Sounds: Jenaer Philharmonie's 2026 Concert Series

EPSG:4326

Thursday Concert No. 7 (2026)

Volkshaus Jena

District Concert Lobeda No. 2

Stadtteilzentrum LISA

Culinary Sunday Matinee No. 5 (2026)

Hotel & Restaurant Schwarzer Bär

Choir concert “Light and Darkness”

St. Michael's Church, Jena

Philharmonic Salon No. 3

Chamber Concert No. 5

Town Hall Hall

Friday Concert No. 4

Audio sample № 3

KLUB reader concert of the Funke Media Group

Saturday Concert No. 3 (2026)

Guest performance in Mülheim an der Ruhr

Stadthalle

Guest performance in Bietigheim-Bissingen

Crown Center

Coffee Concert № 3 “Do you speak English?”

Chamber Concert No. 4 »Dancing Trombone«

Thursday Concert No. 6 (2026)

Culinary Sunday Matinee No. 4 (2026)

Student Concert No. 5, 1st Performance 2026

Müllersches Volksbad

Chamber Concert No. 3

Friday concert № 3 »Leningrad Symphony«

Thursday concert № 5 »Leningrad Symphony«

New Year's Concert in the afternoon »Between Vienna and Buenos Aires«

New Year's Concert "Between Vienna and Buenos Aires"

Guest performance in Arnstadt New Year's Eve concert • SOLD OUT •

Theater in the castle garden

Christmas concert for the whole family »The Nutcracker«, 1st performance

Advent concert in Thalbürgel »A light is approaching«

Thalbürgel Monastery Church

The big Christmas carol singing 2025

Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld

Advent concert of the Jena Madrigal Circle "Et in terra pax"

Schillerkirche „Unserer Lieben Frau“

Family Concert No. 2 »Peter and the Wolf«

Advent concert in Thalbürgel »Lift up the door«

Thursday Concert No. 4

360° No. 2

Advent concert of the boys' choir "A light is approaching"

Schiller Church “Our Lady”

Guest performance in Würzburg, 1st performance

Neubaukirche

Advent concert in Mühlhausen »A light is approaching«

Ecumenical Hainich Clinic gGmbH

The concert will not take place on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in the St. Michael's Church as originally announced, but on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in the Volkshaus Jena.

Advent Concert of the Philharmonic Choirs »Christmas Carols«

Advent concert of the Jena Madrigal Circle »Lift up the door«

St. Mary's Church, Ziegenhain

This program presents the season's motto "Planet Shostakovich" for the first time in chamber music. It focuses on Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev – two internationally acclaimed Russian composers who created masterful works in the tension between artistic independence and political pressure. Their relationship was characterized by rivalry as well as mutual inspiration. The selected works explore different creative phases and contexts: A "Moderato" by Shostakovich for cello and piano from the 1930s, rediscovered in 1986, is followed by "Five Pieces" based on stage and film scores – a suite in miniature format for violin, cello, and piano, arranged by Levon Atovmyan. Prokofiev is represented by his Violin Sonata in F minor, a piece of intimate form but with an epic content of symphonic grandeur, as well as selected scenes from his admired ballet music "Romeo and Juliet," arranged for viola and piano by Vadim Borisovsky, who, as a brilliant interpreter and arranger, popularized the music of both composers. /JN

Culinary Sunday Matinee № 3 

Opera and drama are rarely the focus of Thuringia's largest concert orchestra, which makes the program, which combines two stage works, all the more remarkable. Opening with Gabriel Fauré's incidental music for "Pelléas et Mélisande," the delicacy and tragedy of Maeterlinck's symbolic drama come alive in impressionistic soundscapes. The centerpiece of the evening is Béla Bartók's opera "Duke Bluebeard's Castle": an intense psychological drama in which Judith opens the locked doors of the castle and simultaneously uncovers her husband's secrets. 

Friday Concert No. 2

Three Scandinavian composers, three stops on an existential journey: Jean Sibelius opens with the "Scene with Cranes" from his incidental music to Järnefelt's "Kuolema" ("Death"). Here, the image of nature and the motif of death merge into a quiet vision of transition, in which the cranes appear as a peaceful escort between this world and the next. Wilhelm Stenhammar's concert overture "Excelsior!", in contrast, sparkles with vitality: a youthful manifesto, untamed and full of the spirit of optimism. Ibsen's "Peer Gynt," for which Edvard Grieg wrote his world-famous incidental music, extends the spectrum further—a life parable of self-realization and escape from responsibility, all the way to love and redemption.

Saturday Concert No. 2

French music is a matter close to Simon Gaudenz's heart – and at the same time, it forms a repertoire that is still too rarely the focus of attention in Germany. Its magic lies in its subtle distance: sounds like fleeting scents, shimmering plays of color, transparency, and rhythmic precision create soundscapes of enchanting beauty. In this spirit, André Caplet's delicate cantata "Tout est lumière" resonates, as does Ernest Chausson's heartfelt "Poème" and Maurice Ravel's concert rhapsody "Tzigane" – masterfully interpreted by Tianwa Yang.

Thursday concert № 3 »Parfums de lumière«

Philharmonic Salon No. 2

Coffee Concert No. 2 »On the Road Through Europe«

A new format from the Jena Philharmonic invites curious children and their families on an exciting musical journey of discovery – immediate and captivating. A string quartet playfully explores the magnificent Baroque period with the audience, delves into Shostakovich's mysterious world of sound, and conquers music from film and television. With child-friendly presentations and plenty of hands-on opportunities, classical music becomes tangible and alive. Whether on comfortable mats close to the action or leaning back on mom's lap – here, children can listen, ask questions, participate, and dream.

Family Chamber Concert "Ready, set, go!"

Not only the pop world, but also classical music is facing the challenge of artificial intelligence. In the "Black Box" series, four orchestral musicians and their instruments enter into a dialogue with the "Music Automaton" – an AI developed by Jörn Arnecke, Professor of Music Theory, Aural Training, and Historical Composition Theory, and composer Alex James Vaughan. Traditionally composed works encounter algorithmically generated sounds – a musical contest between centuries-old formal art and digital creativity. What expressive power does AI unfold? Where are its limits, where are its opportunities? The audience is invited not only to listen, but also to think along, to participate in the discussion, and to sharpen their own perception. Experience a unique experiment that combines music, reflection, and debate. /AS/JN

Black Box № 1 “Genius versus AI”

Kassablanca Gleis1

Two masterpieces that stand out from their time—the expression of two composers who used conventions as a springboard into the unknown, thus challenging contemporary audiences: Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2 from the Razumovsky Trilogy, allows classical form to vibrate under the pressure of inner necessity: the ominously concentrated unison at the beginning, harmonic shifts with eruptive potential, a movement dramaturgy of symphonic breath, a sonically contemplative Molto Adagio with a "cosmic" perspective—they mark nothing less than a renegotiation of the concept of genre on the threshold of Romanticism.

Chamber Concert No. 2

"Luminous rays emanated from the Mass de Sainte Cécile. At first, one was dazzled, then enchanted, then overwhelmed." Thus, Camille Saint-Saëns bowed in 1855 before the latest coup of his colleague Charles Gounod. With the Mass of St. Cecilia, Gounod paid homage to the patron saint of sacred music. 

Guest performance in Dresden Concert for the 20th anniversary of the Kirchweihfest

Frauenkirche Dresden

Student Concert No. 4, 1st Performance

"A work like something from another world" – this is how critic Joachim Kaiser describes Franz Schubert's String Quintet in C major. Indeed, what the composer created just a few weeks before his untimely death in 1828 transcends the boundaries of classical chamber music, and not just because of its extraordinary playing time of around fifty minutes. Instead of the second viola, which was common at the time, Schubert uses a second cello – a trick that lends the work a tonal depth and emotional dimension that is unparalleled. 

Culinary Sunday Matinee No. 2

Guest performance in Weißenfels »Back from vacation«

Weißenfels Cultural Center

"Die Wilde Jagd" is the music project of producer and songwriter Sebastian Lee Philipp. With minimalist, dark intensity, the music of "Die Wilde Jagd" weaves a dense and atmospheric web of drama, romance, ecstasy, and melancholy. "Die Wilde Jagd" has released five studio albums and several EPs, followed by numerous international tours and concerts. Following the remarkable success of their eponymous debut album in 2015, "Die Wilde Jagd" achieved their breakthrough with the release of "Uhrwald Orange" in 2018. 

The Wild Hunt – Live with Jena Philharmonic Quartet

Edward Elgar's Serenade in E minor, an early work characterized by chamber music, full of lyrical warmth and subtle melancholy, opens the program, with Tomasz Skweres' "Ligament" serving as its pivotal piece. This work not only mediates compositionally between the evening's pieces but also builds bridges between time, space, and sound. Reconceived each time, it takes up electroacoustically altered motifs from the surrounding works and combines them into a new whole. The classical concert framework is also disrupted spatially: sounds wander through the space, musicians enter the hall from unusual directions—the audience becomes part of a vibrant sonic process.

Thursday Concert No. 2

The program, entirely dedicated to the Russian Romantic composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, combines two of his most famous works. While the Polonaise and Waltz from the opera "Eugene Onegin" are among the pieces frequently performed at prestigious balls, the opera itself tells a story of missed opportunities and unrequited love – and thus shares its innermost theme with the Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, which was composed around the same time: the wrestling with fate.

Saturday Concert No. 1

Student Concert No. 3, 1st Performance

Student Concert No. 2, 1st Performance

Student Concert No. 1, 1st Performance

Rosa Donata Milton, Deputy First Concertmaster of the Jena Philharmonic, and pianist Tatiana Kachko unfold a colorful program of Spanish music full of rhythm, elegance, and virtuoso refinement. Works by Pablo de Sarasate, Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla, and others paint a vibrant panorama of musical styles ranging from salon pieces to character dances. 

Chamber Concert № 1 »Viva la Vida!«

Guest performance in Arnstadt »Back from vacation«

Theater im Schlossgarten

Rodolfo Halffter's "Tres Epitafios," premiered in 1954, opens the concert evening with three finely crafted choral movements about Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, and Dulcinea. The short "epistolary" is a musical eulogy—not sad, but ironically loving. Halffter portrays Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's literary figures as memory images from a bygone age of the imagination. Richard Strauss also dedicated his 1897 tone poem "Don Quixote" to the "knight of the melancholy countenance"—albeit in a large orchestral format. In the performance, the solo parts are sung by Henriette Lätsch, principal cellist, and Christian Götz, principal viola of the Jena Philharmonic. Between the two works, Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major from 1806 conveys a cheerful, transparent soundscape with a playful character. /JN

Friday Concert No. 1

360° No. 1

Audio sample № 1

On the penultimate day of summer – a matinee under the sign of the sun: with works by Telemann, Haydn, and Wolf, the program explores the light in its diverse musical refractions. As an expression of courtly splendor under the "Sun King" Louis XIV, the overture suite shone far beyond France's borders. The genre also became extremely popular in Germany, not least thanks to the work of Georg Philipp Telemann. His overture suite "La Bizarre" combines French and Italian stylistic elements in an original way. From baroque radiance to classical transparency: two string quartets from Haydn's so-called "Sun Quartets," Op. 20, form a framework. The stormy G minor quartet forms a charming contrast to the gallantly serene A major quartet, which surprises with an artfully crafted final fugue. 

Culinary Sunday Matinee No. 1

District Concert Winzerla № 1

Galileo Community School, Aula

In Andreas N. Tarkmann's "The Alternative Carnival of Animals," all sorts of animal guests gather for a musically exuberant celebration. The composer has rearranged works from various eras with animal themes—from Rameau to Schumann to Bartók—and created a colorful suite. Juri Tetzlaff's story tells of a little fly who, while searching for the perfect costume for the grand masked ball at the forest lake, gets into turbulent adventures. Stephan Hübner, with his stage- and radio-tested voice, provides the perfect dose of narrative magic for this animal-themed concert, while the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra is led by conductor and music educator Friederike Kienle. A musical treat for the whole family, presenting familiar melodies in a new guise and inviting you to join in the excitement. /JN

Family Concert No. 1 »The Alternative Carnival of Animals«, 1st Performance

The first concert, dedicated to the season's theme "Planet Shostakovich," juxtaposes two works that, in very different ways, touch on profound ideological layers and, precisely through contrast, open up new realms of interpretation: Dmitri Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77, was composed in 1947/1948, during a time of inner and outer distress. Jewish themes, such as those in the sharply drawn Scherzo, lend the work a dual codification: as a cultural confession and as a silent rebuttal. Soloist Liza Ferschtman devotes herself to this multifaceted work with great artistic sensitivity. This contrasts with Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's "Reformation Symphony," Op. 107. Composed in 1829/1830 as a contribution to the 300th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, it is a sonic testament to Protestant identity. /JN

Thursday Concert No. 1

Under the motto "Planet Shostakovich," the Jena Philharmonic will embark on a musical orbit centered around the multifaceted works of Dmitri Shostakovich in the 2025-2026 season. In his eighth season as General Music Director, Simon Gaudenz invites audiences to rediscover a composer whose music oscillates between contemporary witness and timeless expressiveness. Shostakovich, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Delius, and Tomlinson—the season opening concert will showcase the broad stylistic range the orchestra will explore throughout the season. The new ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, light artist Robert Seidel, will also offer a foretaste of his art, which will enrich the music with new perceptions. Experience an afternoon of encounters, awakening, and anticipation. /JN

Season opening concert

Coffee Concert No. 1 »Back from Vacation«

Unfortunately, the concert cannot take place as planned in St. Michael's Church. Due to a fracture of a vault rib of unknown cause, the church has been closed as a precautionary measure by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jena. The concert will therefore be moved to the Thalbürgel Monastery Church, with the start time postponed to 7:30 p.m. Tickets already purchased remain valid.

Choral concert "The Sound of Europe"

Choir concert in Frauenprießnitz »Rejoice in the Lord«

St. Mauritius Church

Closing concert of the 65th Weimar Master Classes 2025 »The best for last«

Congress Centrum Neue Weimarhalle

Guest performance in Toblach Mahler-Scartazzini Cycle IX

Kulturzentrum/Gustav-Mahler-Saal

Chamber Concert No. 10

Historisches Rathaus Jena

Virtuoso Spanish music by Pablo de Sarasate, Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla and others.

Culinary Sunday Matinee № 8 "Viva la Vida!"

Hotel Schwarzer Bär

Friday Concert No. 7

360° No. 4

A tribute to the legendary “Last Night of the Proms” with Henry Wood’s “Fantasy on British Sea Songs”, Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” and many other classics

Arena Overture, 2nd performance "Very British"

Festplatz Lobeda West

Arena Overture, 1st performance "Very British"

The academics of the Dual Orchestra Academy Thuringia introduce themselves.

8th Chamber Concert in Altenburg

Theater Altenburg Gera

Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini's great orchestral work is nearing completion. The ten movements, each of which is assigned to a symphony by Gustav Mahler and is connected to it in terms of both thought and content, tell of a highly philosophical journey of thought through a mythological world. These ten movements, each like its own, unique space, tell of the deepest states of human existence. In the entire span between death and life, between hopelessness and hope, the Swiss composer impresses with extremely differentiated atmospheres and his emotional and permeable music.

Thursday concert No. 9 Mahler-Scartazzini cycle X

Students from the Jena Music and Art School and the Schloss Belvedere Weimar Music High School show off their piano skills.

Chamber Concert No. 9

Works by Johannes Brahms, Friedrich Silcher, Robert Schumann and others.

Boys' Choir meets friends

Stadtkirche St. Michael

326th Foyer Concert in Gera

Choral-symphonic concert "55 Years of the Jena Philharmonic Choir"

The Philharmonic Society invites you to a discussion

Philharmonic Salon No. 4

Chamber Concert No. 8 "Without Imagination, No Art"

Friday Concert No. 6

A surprise program curated by musicians from the Jena Philharmonic

Black Box No. 3

Culinary Sunday Matinee No. 7

Friday Concert No. 5

Thursday Concert No. 8

District Concert Winzerla No. 2

 Gemeinschaftsschule "Galileo" Winzerla

Ákos Hoffmann:
“The Little Mermaid”, fairy tale after Hans Christian Andersen for speaker and orchestra

Family Concert No. 4

Volksbad Jena

Works from the albums “Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger” by Frank Zappa (1984) and “Sketches of Spain. Arranged and conducted by Gil Evans” by Miles Davis (1960)

Philharmonie meets Jazz

Unfortunately, the concert cannot take place as planned. Instead of the program “The Deep Brass” with works by Enrique Crespo, Wolfram Buchenberg, André Amellér and Giovanni Gabrieli, played by Carl-Philipp Kaptain, Akari Yamane and Martin Zuckschwerdt (tenor trombone), Douglas Murdoch (bass trombone) and Bruno Osinski (tuba), the trio tacet will play the program “ Gabriel Fauré – Student, Teacher, Composer” with works by Lili Boulanger, Gabriel Fauré and Camille Saint-Saëns. Tickets already purchased remain valid.

Chamber Concert No. 7

Works by Johann Strauss (son), Franz Lehár, Giuseppe Verdi, Peter Tchaikovsky and others.

Jenaer Philharmonie

Mar 22, 2026

Family Concert No. 3 »King Carrot«, 1st Performance

Mar 23, 2026

Thursday Concert No. 8 »Between Worlds«

Mar 27, 2026

Audio sample № 4

Mar 28, 2026

Saturday Concert No. 4

Mar 29, 2026

Guest performance in Arnstadt »Do you speak English?«

Mar 19, 2026

Thursday Concert No. 7 (2026)

Mar 15, 2026

District Concert Lobeda No. 2

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Jenaer Philharmonie