As the year draws to a close, Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester invites you to immerse yourself in a symphony of seasonal celebrations. From the joyful harmonies of children's choirs to the poignant strains of Bach and Rossini, this concert series promises to enchant and uplift. Join an array of talented performers, including beloved children’s entertainer Sigurd Barrett, renowned folk artists Helene Blum and Harald Haugaard, and rising stars like Guido Sant'Anna and Alena Baeva, as they bring to life a rich tapestry of festive sounds across Denmark and beyond.

A Melodic Journey: Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester's Festive Season Line-Up

From the captivating violin prowess of Alena Baeva to the evocative narratives of Shostakovich’s compositions, the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester offers a series of events that promise to resonate with cultural and artistic significance. These concerts highlight a blend of historical and contemporary works, featuring renowned performers like Stephanie Childress and Johan Reuter. Dive into the enriching world of classical music, where each event is a gateway to experiencing diverse artistic expressions, cultural stories, and the timeless beauty of symphonic music.

A Symphony of Artistic Journeys: Spotlight on the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester Events

Join Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester as they present a rich tapestry of musical narratives in 2025. From Poul Schierbeck's operatic tales in 'Fête galante' to the illustrious 'Missa Solemnis' by Beethoven at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, this season promises to be a remarkable journey through time, emotions, and art. With performances by renowned artists such as Johan Reuter and Robert Treviño, these events offer an exploration of complex narratives and musical genius across various genres and historical contexts, promising an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

A Cultural Symphony: Celebrating Music and Stories through Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester's 2025 Season

Embark on a captivating journey with Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester as they present a series of diverse and enriching concerts in 2025. From the heartfelt choral harmonies of Rossini’s 'Stabat Mater' to the powerful orchestral renditions of Shostakovich, the season promises an eclectic mix of performances that explore themes of love, resilience, and artistic innovation. Internationally renowned conductors and musicians join forces to deliver performances that are sure to resonate deeply with audiences, offering an unforgettable musical experience that reflects both cultural richness and artistic excellence.

An Artistic Odyssey: Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester's 2025 Concert Series

The Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester is set to take audiences on a musical journey through an array of captivating events in 2025. From operatic debuts to international celebrations, these events promise to enrich the cultural tapestry of Europe. Highlights include Poul Schierbeck’s 'Fête galante', Johan Reuter’s powerful renditions of Brahms, and the grand 40th anniversary of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. Join us as we explore the intricate beauty of these performances and the artists behind them.

A Symphony of Events: Celebrating Cultural Harmony with Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester

Embark on a musical journey through time and emotion with the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester. From Shostakovich's politically charged symphonies to intimate family stories through music, and a celebration of Wagner, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven's timeless pieces, these events promise to deliver unforgettable experiences. Join us as we delve into the creative genius of composers, the compelling narratives behind their works, and the resonance these pieces hold in today's cultural landscape.

A Symphony of Stories: Exploring Music's Timeless Impact Across Generations

Experience a symphonic journey as Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester presents a series of compelling concerts weaving narratives of musical heritage, cultural reflections, and personal stories. From Shostakovich's challenging Symphony No. 4 to the personal family tale in 'Anna's Song,' conductor Robert Treviño's international journey, and a nostalgic reunion with Johannes Wildner, each event offers a unique musical exploration. As the orchestra prepares for its role in the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival's 40th anniversary, audiences are invited to discover the profound connections between music and life.

A Symphony of Stories: Celebrating Music, Heritage, and Treasured Memories

Prepare to embark on a spectacular journey through music as the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester presents an array of captivating events. From the orchestral brilliance of Jesper Busk Sørensen with the Berlin Philharmonic to the operatic drama of Mozart's 'Don Juan,' there's something for everyone. Join us as we explore the musical talents of rising stars and seasoned artists alike, and experience the profound impact these performances have on audiences and the cultural landscape.

Discovering Musical Masterpieces: A Journey Through Orchestral and Operatic Wonders

This June, the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester orchestrates a spectacular series of events, blending diverse musical traditions and cultural narratives into one seamless symphony of summer festivities.

A Harmonious Summer: Melding Music and Culture Across Borders

Opera in Danish with Danish supertitles. Danish translation: Jens Louis Petersen.

CARMEN with Den Jyske Opera

Koncertsalen Alsion

MOZART & BERLIOZ

Løgumkloster Kirke

Daniel Müller-Schott & Elgars Cellokoncert

Prokofievs 2. klaverkoncert

SÆSONÅBNING – TETZLAFF & BARTÓK

Koncertant opsætning af musicalen Chess med solistensemble

Chess in Concert

A beautiful and varied program consisting of overtures, arias and duets from the world of operetta. With Viennese baritone Günter Haumer and soprano Elisabeth Meyer.

Summer Concert at Augustenborg

Augustenborg Slotspark

Few things can bring people together like football and music. Across languages, borders and cultures, the two create a passion that touches the heart and gives goosebumps. From the deafening anthems that echo through the stands, to the great classical symphonies that enrich us. It is the sound of anticipation, jubilation and triumph. Tonight we bring the stadium atmosphere right into the concert hall.

The sound of football: From stadium to concert hall

Alsion Concert Hall

Comwell Kolding Theatre

EPSG:4326

Lyden af fodbold: Fra stadion til koncertsal

Alsion

When the sun sets on a bright June evening and the flames of the bonfire dance in the wind, the air is filled with notes that have always brought generations together. Our traditional and always atmospheric St. Hans concert is of course on the program again, and this year it is the beloved midsummer songs from the high school songbook that evoke memories of community when our chairman of the board, Simon Faber, sits down at the piano.

St. Hans 2026

When a composer and an orchestra work closely together over several years, a unique musical symbiosis arises. Lil Lacy is the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra's resident artist from 2024-2027, and her musical collaboration with the orchestra contains a depth that can only arise through mutual inspiration and time for reflection.

Portrait concert by Lil Lacy

Harmony Cultural Center, Haderslev

When the Sønderjylland Symphony Orchestra and the Schleswig-Holstein Symphony Orchestra unite, music truly becomes borderless. Across national borders – but with a shared love of symphonic music – the two orchestras create a magnificent concert experience that is only possible in a region with such strong cultural ties. It is a unique opportunity to experience over 100 musicians together on stage, a luxury that is otherwise only found in the largest European capitals.

Collaboration concert: Wagner, Brantelid & Mahler

German House

When Claudio Flückiger lifts his horn, a world of sonic beauty and virtuosity opens up. As solo hornist in the Royal Danish Orchestra, he masters the instrument's warm, singable tone and its powerful expression – qualities that are indispensable in the music of Richard Strauss.


Flückiger, educated in Zurich and with a career that has taken him through the Opernhaus Zurich and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, has a particular love for Strauss's works. In fact, the composer's incidental music was one of the reasons he chose to become an opera hornist. Tonight he will appear as a soloist in Strauss's Horn Concerto No. 1, a work written with love and deep understanding of the instrument. Strauss dedicated the concerto to his father, Franz Strauss, one of the most famous horn players of the time, and chose to call the orchestral version the “Waldhornkonzert” – a reference to the French horn his father preferred to play.

The solo hornist of the Royal Chapel plays Strauss

There are some works that hardly need an introduction, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is undoubtedly one of them. “The Great Symphony” has enchanted audiences throughout history with its powerful music and the famous “Ode to Joy” in the 4th movement. Beethoven’s 9th Symphony was revolutionary in several ways.


It is both long and magnificent, and for the first time an orchestra was supplemented by both choirs and soloists – a completely new dimension in symphonic music. It is a work that almost transcends the boundaries of music itself. The work has become a symbol of freedom and love, and has been a comfort and inspiration to people for centuries. The symphony is the EU anthem, and its dramatic and powerful notes were played under the Brandenburg Gate when the Berlin Wall fell, a moment when music emphasized hope and unity across nations. Here the word “Freude” was replaced with “Freiheit”. In 2001, Beethoven’s original, handwritten manuscript, from the Berlin State Library, was included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme as the first musical work ever. Thus, the symphony cemented its place as an iconic work in the world’s cultural heritage.

Beethoven's 9th.

Ribe Cathedral

Our new Principal Guest Conductor, Henrik Schaefer, will lead no less than four special evenings, when Mozart's Requiem from 1791, one of the most moving and dramatic works in music history, is on the program. It is Mozart's last composition but among his most famous works, even though it was only partly written by Mozart himself.

Mozart's Requiem with Schaefer

Løgumkloster Church

Conducting a symphony orchestra is an art. It is not something you just do – it requires technique, musicianship and leadership. And above all, it requires experience. That is why it is crucial that young conducting students from the Royal Danish Academy of Music have the opportunity to work with a professional symphony orchestra as part of their education.

DKDM's conducting seminar

“To be faithful to only one woman is the same as being unfaithful to all the others!” So ​​sings Don Juan. It is, all things considered, a statement that one can mull over a bit, and has been since 1787, when Mozart and his librettist Lorenzo da Ponte premiered  Don Juan .


The opera tells the myth of one of the most controversial men in the history of music and literature; is he the ultimate living man or an outdated charlatan? Is it a cheerful comedy, as Mozart himself called it? Or has it become a tragedy about human decay, sin and penance, with the view of posterity on the work?

In addition to the opera's fantastic music, it is a work that has taken a firm hold on society's view of humanity and our self-understanding.  Don Juan  was an unequivocal success when it premiered

Mozart's “Don Juan” with the Danish National Opera

Vejle Music Theatre

Gymnasiekorskoncert: Gades Elverskud

A. P. Møller Skolen

Once again this year, high school choirs from Southern Jutland and Southern Schleswig gather for the Southern Jutland Symphony Orchestra's annual high school choir project. Together with the orchestra's musicians and under the direction of our new chief conductor, Christian Øland, they bring one of Denmark's most adventurous musical tales to life – Niels W. Gade's Elverskud.

High school choir concert: Street's Elverskud

AP Moller School

Every year, the Southern Jutland Symphony Orchestra focuses on developing musical talent in the region. This year, the close collaboration with MGK-Syd's young classical talents continues, who will have the opportunity to work closely with the orchestra's professional musicians.


During an intense workshop and rehearsal program in the Alsion Concert Hall, the students sit side-by-side with the experienced musicians and learn directly from them as mentors. For the young people, the program offers a rare opportunity to participate in orchestra rehearsals, play together in small groups and receive personal guidance from the orchestra's musicians. The unique opportunity culminates when the students, together with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, fill the stage for a final concert, where they perform works by, among others, Haydn and Tchaikovsky. An inspiring and festive evening that celebrates the collaboration between experienced orchestra musicians and young, budding talents.

MGK: Our young talents

Cellist Andreas Brantelid is one of the best musicians of his generation. At just 14 years old, he made his debut with the Royal Danish Orchestra, playing Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto – the same iconic work that cello legend Jacqueline Du Pré also made his debut with.


When he turned 30, he described his passion for music to DR with the words: “There's something about it that you can't help but do. I can't really give you an answer as to why I have the lifestyle I have, which is to travel a lot and play concerts all the time. It can't be any other way. It would simply hurt too much in the heart to say no to playing.”

Rococo Variations with Andreas Brantelid

Church of the Brethren

“To be faithful to only one woman is the same as being unfaithful to all the others!” So ​​sings Don Juan. All other things being equal, it is a statement that one can mull over a bit, and has been doing so since 1787, when Mozart and his librettist Lorenzo da Ponte premiered Don Juan . The opera tells the myth of one of the most debated men in the history of music and literature; is he the ultimate man of action or an outdated charlatan? Is it a cheerful comedy, as Mozart himself called it? Or has it become a tragedy about human decadence, sin and penance, with the view of posterity on the work?

In addition to the opera's fantastic music, it is a work that has taken a firm hold on society's view of humanity and our self-understanding. Don Juan was an unequivocal success when it premiered in Prague, and for almost 240 years has been one of the most beloved and performed operas worldwide.

Don Juan

Aalborghallen

Musikhuset Aarhus

MusikTeatret Albertslund

The Royal Danish Theatre

Odense Concert Hall

Vejle Musikteater

Tinghallen, Viborg

DGI Huset Vordingborg

The Cleveland International Piano Competition is one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the United States, and is held every two years in Cleveland, Ohio. Since its inception in 1975, the competition has been a stage for the world's most talented pianists and a meeting place for musical passion and technical virtuosity. Now, the audience in South Jutland can experience the winner from 2024, James Zijian Wei, in Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1.

Brahms 1st Piano Concerto and Dvořák's 8th Symphony

There is something special about being able to say that a Danish musician plays in what is probably the world's most prestigious symphony orchestra. Jesper Busk Sørensen is a trombonist in the Berlin Philharmonic and is only the fourth Dane in the orchestra's more than 100-year history – an orchestra that has been a symbol of musical excellence since its founding.

New chief conductor with visit from the Berlin Philharmonic

The soloist in Sibelius' virtuoso violin concerto is Danish-Ukrainian violinist Anna Agafia Egholm, considered one of the Nordic countries' most promising young musicians. Her brilliant technique and poetic musicality have already captivated audiences across Europe.

Anna Egholm plays Sibelius

We're taking a trip to the other side of the globe to meet Jessica Cottis, who grew up on her family's sheep farm in southeastern Australia. From there, she has a deep connection to nature, which is reflected in her passion for programs that explore music's relationship with nature and science.

Award-winning soloist sings Vier letzte Lieder

South Jutland Hall

It is with Mozart at the center that the young, up-and-coming conductor Alessandro Bonato leads the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra and leads the audience through an evening filled with musical greatness and contrasts.


The concert program ranges from sunny Italian tones to divine melodies, with Mozart’s timeless masterpieces as the common thread. The evening features Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, with the winner of the prestigious Ferruccio Busoni Piano Competition, Arsenii Moon, who is currently recording on Deutsche Grammophon, as soloist. He also received the prestigious Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Prize, which is only awarded by unanimous decision of the jury – an honor that had not been awarded for almost three decades. The concert culminates with Mozart’s magnificent Symphony No. 41, the “Jupiter Symphony”, one of his last works, the epic finale of which, with its impressive fugue, stands as an incomparable and iconic musical masterpiece.

Italian interpretation of Mozart

The Troll Hall

The New Year's Gala is a traditional Viennese program that sets the stage for a festive and joyful start to the new year. With a carefully selected repertoire that draws on classic Viennese culture, the audience is invited to celebrate the new year with both elegance and lively energy.

New Year's Gala

Forum Horsens

Tønder Cultural Center

The traditional Christmas concert with the Southern Jutland Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Choir and Handel's immortal oratorio Messiah is of course also on the program in 2025.


A masterpiece that has thrilled audiences for more than 280 years. The concert is a regular part of the Christmas celebrations in the southern Jutland countryside and is played every other year – a traditional event that both musicians and audiences look forward to with great joy. One of the absolute highlights of the concert is the magnificent Hallelujah choir, which fills concert halls and churches with an almost otherworldly energy.

Handel's Messiah With Philharmonic Choir

Christmas music has a very special ability to evoke memories and create atmosphere. It is the notes that connect us with the expectant Christmas Eves of childhood, the frosty mornings when the snow crunches underfoot, and the cozy moments in the glow of candles.


That is why we are very pleased to be able to invite you to a Christmas concert in true big band style when we unite with the Schleswig Music Band, also known as SMUK. SMUK is one of the three full-time professional music bands of the Danish Armed Forces and consists of 16 talented brass and percussion players. As the musical ambassadors of the Danish Armed Forces, they play at a wide range of events both at home and abroad – and now, together with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, they are bringing the wonderful Christmas atmosphere directly to the concert hall. The program includes a string of beloved American Christmas hits that evoke memories of snowy landscapes, twinkling Christmas lights and cozy moments with those we love. The swinging big band arrangements add energy and dynamism, while the more subdued melodies give room for contemplation and peace.

A BEAUTIFUL Christmas concert with the Schleswig Music Corps

Sonderborg Theatre

Experience an unforgettable Christmas concert when Sigurd Barrett takes the stage with the Sønderjysk Pigekor and Drengekor, an impressive children's choir from schools throughout South and South Jutland and South Schleswig - and not least a real symphony orchestra.

Children's Christmas with Sigurd Barrett and children's choirs from across the region

Wikinghalle, Handewitt

Hotel Nørherredhus, Nordborg

The show is at both 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM.

TV 2 Alletiders Juleshow has presented some of Denmark's biggest stars over the years, including Malte Ebert, Tim Christensen, Christopher, Tina Dickow, Lis Sørensen, Oh Land, Burhan G, Sanne Salomonsen, Anne Linnet, Rasmus Seebach – and many more! We can hardly wait to unveil 2025's impressive lineup, which we look forward to revealing later in the year. One thing is for sure: Sønderborg and Alsion will be the center of the biggest and most beautiful Christmas show of the year, when TV 2 Alletiders Juleshow fills the hall with light, music and joy!

TV 2 All-Time Christmas Show

The last time there was a Gospel Gala in Alsion, it was a resounding success, to say the least – the concert was sold out a month in advance, and the audience as well as the orchestra had a festive evening filled with joy and musical energy.


Now we repeat the success when we open the doors for an evening with the fantastic Sønderborg Gospel Choir, who is once again ready to fill the concert hall with the powerful tones that only gospel brings. The choir is led by Johanna Løhde Nielsen, who has had musical responsibility for the Sønderborg Gospel Choir since 2017. This evening she is not only the choir leader, but also the soloist, and in addition there are guests from the other side of the Atlantic.

Gospelgalla

Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah is a dramatic and moving portrayal of the life of the prophet Elijah – filled with magnificent choral passages, heartfelt arias and powerful musical contrasts. The work is full of drama, from stormy celestial phenomena to deeply personal prayers, and has thrilled audiences since its premiere in 1846.


When we perform this monumental oratorio in 2025, it will be with a connoisseur of the genre at the helm: Matthias Janz. As one of the most experienced conductors in the choral and oratorio repertoire, he has been an invaluable partner for the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra for years and has contributed to shaping its artistic profile. They say that being outside is good, but being at home is best. South Jutland and South Schleswig are our musical home turf, where we have shared countless great experiences with audiences over the years. But this time we are also looking forward to presenting Elias in one of Germany's most famous concert halls – the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg.

The trip goes to Hamburg with Janz

Turen går til Hamborg med Janz

There is a true world star on the program when we present a unique concert experience with the world-famous trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger, who will perform as both soloist and conductor this evening.


With a career spanning four decades, Hardenberger is known as one of the most prominent and innovative trumpet players in the world. He has collaborated with some of the greatest orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and he continues to set new standards for what can be achieved with the trumpet. This evening, Hardenberger presents, among other things, one of the greatest classics of trumpet literature, Haydn's Trumpet Concerto, which with its elegant melody and virtuoso challenges is a work that truly shows the many facets of the instrument.

Stardust on trumpet with Håkan Hardenberger

In 1853, Verdi wrote the opera  La Traviata  based on Alexandre Dumas' novel The Lady of the Camellias about the courtesan Marie Duplessis.


The novel, as well as Verdi's opera, has since been the basis for many interpretations, such as the films  Pretty Woman  and  Moulin Rouge  , as well as a wide range of ballets, novels and plays. The woman's decline and her apparent lack of moral compass have always fascinated.

Verdi lived with the soprano Giuseppina Strepponi for 15 years before they married in 1859. She already had two children out of wedlock with two different men. Like Violetta and Alfredo, they also experienced the judgment of society. It even went so far that Verdi broke off contact with his parents in order to live with the woman he loved.

Verdi's “La Traviata” with the Danish National Opera

Comwell Kolding

Esbjerg Music Hall

It all started in Alsion over 10 years ago, when the Nordic Masterclass was founded in 2012. Every year, more than 100 talented conductors from all over the world apply for one of the coveted places. Participants have the unique opportunity to be guided and taught by the legendary Finnish conductor Jorma Panula and the Danish conductor Maria Badstue, who is also the founder of the course. As part of the experience, you can enjoy an exciting closing concert, which is free to experience – a unique chance to witness the conductors of tomorrow in action.

Nordic Masterclass

Lil Lacy's flute concerto, written for the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra's long-time flautist, Thomas Jensen, is a work that celebrates life experience and the eternal change we as humans go through.


For Lil Lacy, this work has been a human and artistic journey. “I feel enormous gratitude,” she says. “Firstly, for having been given the opportunity to write a flute concerto, but also for the curiosity and openness with which Thomas has met me. The ongoing dialogue and exchange we have had around the work has been deeply inspiring and has opened up unique layers of sensuality, details and nuances in the music.” Lil Lacy and Thomas Jensen have had a collaboration based on mutual inspiration. From their very first conversations, it was clear that the work should bear the hallmark of a life story – a musical interpretation of the many phases a person goes through from before birth, to childhood, adolescence, adulthood and to a reflection on life. “I didn’t know from the beginning that it would be about life experience. However, this theme arose quite naturally in our conversations, as Thomas has such a rich career and is so curious about so many different musical genres and expressions. Being able to lean into a great life experience, both humanly and artistically, is something that creates perspective and possibilities. For me as a newer composer, it is a great gift to work with such a generous and trusting musician – and human being,” says Lil Lacy. For Thomas Jensen, the work has a deep personal meaning. With a long career behind him, where he has worked with Lil Lacy’s parents, jazz pianist Butch Lacy and singer Birgitte Frieboe, among other things, the collaboration feels almost destined.

World premiere: Thomas Jensen plays Lil Lacy's flute concerto

Katrine undersøger

Are you ready to explore the magic of music? Katrine Bille, known from Ramasjang, takes children and adults on an adventurous journey filled with fun sounds, songs and lots of discoveries!


As a singer, TV host and author, Katrine has been a favorite among children and childlike souls for many years, and now she invites you to a concert where the whole family can sing, play and experience music in a whole new way. With fun, interactive features and familiar melodies, children become part of the adventure as Katrine explores how music can open up amazing new worlds.

Katrine investigates

 Harmony Cultural Center

At the age of 13, Marie-Ange was accepted to the prestigious Paris Conservatoire, where she studied under Nicholas Angelich. Since then, her musical journey has taken her to both Vienna and New York, where she has refined her talent as a pianist, conductor and musicologist.


This evening she interprets one of the most beloved works in the piano repertoire – Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. With its dramatic opening fanfare, lyrical beauty and virtuosity, it is a work that places great demands on the soloist, but also opens up for great emotional expressions. After the intermission, Mendelssohn’s majestic and uplifting Reformation Symphony takes over. The whole thing is conducted by Belgian Martijn Dendievel, who was already admitted to the Royal Conservatory in Brussels at the age of 14, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music theory. In 2021, he won the prestigious German Conducting Award.

A magnificent piano evening

The Southern Jutland Symphony Orchestra begins a new and exciting season with a magnificent opening concert that unites two of classical music's greatest masterpieces. Under the direction of the charismatic Latvian conductor Andris Poga, and with the award-winning violinist Johan Dalene as soloist, an evening awaits where passion and perfection meet.


Andris Poga is the chief conductor of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, and has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting conductors. For the season opener, he puts his stamp on Tchaikovsky’s intense and beautiful Violin Concerto, after which he leads the orchestra through Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 – a monumental work that took 14 years to create. The symphony is often called “Beethoven’s 10th” for its grandiose beauty and deep emotional range. From the dramatic introduction to the triumphant finale, the symphony takes us on a journey through darkness and light, doubt and victory.

Season opening: Johan Dalene plays Tchaikovsky

Michael Schønwandt conducts the Southern Jutland Symphony Orchestra in our unofficial, recurring season opening: Rued Langgaard Festival – an evening that, as usual, explores Langgaard's most visionary works.

The whole thing begins evocatively with Messiaen's motet O Sacrum Convivium! and then features Langgaard's concert piece The Star in the East, which is heavenly music with soprano Louise McClelland as soloist. This is followed by Symphony No. 6, - a dramatic main work with strong ties to the opera Antichrist, which the orchestra has previously performed with great success. After the interval, Ludolf Nielsen's nature-depicting Skovvandring will be performed, and the concert will conclude with Langgaard's choral work Fra Dybet, performed by a united choir of young, talented singers. Michael Schønwandt has been one of Denmark's leading conductors for almost 50 years. Chief conductor and music director of the Royal Danish Orchestra. Theatre and Orchestra 2000-2013, chief conductor of the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester 1992-98, 1st guest conductor of the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra 1889-2000, chief conductor of the Opera and Orchestra in Montpellier 2015-23 are just some of the orchestras he has been associated with over time.

Rued Langgaard Festival

As a central part of the New Opera's venture, the orchestra has already performed The Rhinegold, The Valkyrie and Siegfried, and now they are ready to deliver another unforgettable musical experience. With almost 100 musicians in a unique Bayreuth-style orchestra pit, the orchestra creates a unique sound that enhances the dramatic intensity of Wagner's music. The performance undoubtedly brings the epic tale of the ring, its power and curse, to life in a way that audiences will never forget.

Wagner: Ragnarok

Freedom or love?
Verdi wrote the opera La Traviata in 1853 , based on Alexandre Dumas' novel The Lady of the Camellias about the courtesan Marie Duplessis. The novel, as well as Verdi's opera, has since been the basis for many interpretations, such as the films Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge, as well as a long series of ballets, novels and plays. The woman's decline and her apparent lack of moral compass have always fascinated.

La Traviata

It is with an overwhelming sense of pride and humility that the orchestra has received the invitation to the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival's 40th anniversary. This honor is not only proof of the orchestra's musical quality, but also a symbol of the unique collaboration that exists in the borderland. The festival has previously hosted big, famous names such as Leonard Bernstein, Christoph Eschenbach, Alan Gilbert, Andris Poga, Kent Nagano, Semyon Bychkov as well as Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Midori Gotō and Anne-Sophie Mutter. We look forward to presenting Beethoven's magnificent Missa Solemnis at the festival. Among the great Viennese classics such as Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, Mass compositions are considered a high point in their musical heritage. These composers created magnificent masses that often included choirs, four soloists, and an orchestra.

40th anniversary: Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival 2025

Sala de Música y Congresos Lübeck

As we gather around the fire, we will remember the many moments we have shared throughout the season. We take a step back and consider the journey we've been on and celebrate the concerts, challenges and experiences that have shaped us as an orchestra. A special joy of this evening is the reunion with our former chief conductor, Johannes Wildner. Johannes not only brings his musical skills to the concert, but also his unique ability to create a connection between musicians and audience. His presence is a welcome reunion, reminding us of the wonderful memories we have made together over the years. Together with Johannes Wildner and our beloved audience, we look forward to the upcoming summer holidays, filled with sunshine, rest and new challenges in the coming season.

Skt. Hans Koncert

A car trip can lead to many places. It was Mozart's Requiem on a car radio that lit a spark. Mexican-American Robert Treviño was driving with his father, who was tuning into a classical music radio channel, and then he knew what the meaning of life was, so to speak: He wanted to be a conductor. He was only 8 years old then. He was not from a musical family, and it was only as a teenager that he could begin actual music lessons. Then he threw himself into the bassoon and several other instruments to get a feel for what an orchestra is. Robert Treviño was educated in the USA, but had his professional debut as a conductor in Germany when he was just 20. Since then he has been associated with orchestras both in the USA and Europe, from Malmö in Sweden, where he, among other things, recorded Beethoven's symphonies with the orchestra, to the Basque Country in northern Spain, where he is head of the Basque National Orchestra, with whom he has both recorded Ravel and rarely heard American works - he ranges widely. Wagner and Tchaikovsky are what he is excited about in South Jutland – music about love and its conflicts. Love songs, and a symphony from Tchaikovsky's divided mind.

Treviño conducts Wagner & Tchaikovsky

When Annas Sang is performed at concerts in June 2025, three generations of the musician Koppel family will be present in their own way: Benjamin Koppel, composer and saxophonist with his quartet; Anders Koppel, musician, composer and Benjamin's father, who arranged the music for symphony orchestra – and then Anna, the great-aunt, whose story Benjamin Koppel used when he debuted as a writer in 2022. It became a bestseller and the novel has received many awards.

Book concert: Anna's Song

Free Waldorf school

Dmitri Shostakovich's 2nd and 3rd symphonies carried a clear political inspiration and patriotic tone, celebrating the Soviet revolution and the labor movement. Both symphonies were composed early in Shostakovich's career, and were favorably received by the Soviet government for their strongly patriotic character. In contrast, Shostakovich's 4th Symphony, composed in 1935-1936, was not met with the same level of enthusiasm by the Soviet authorities. The symphony was not actually performed publicly until 1961, when it was deemed too "dangerous" by the Soviet authorities due to its complex harmonies and emotional depth, which did not fit into Soviet art policy at the time. Only after Stalin's death was the symphony first performed. With its structure and wide musical range, Shostakovich's 4th Symphony requires an appropriate number of musicians and instruments. That is why, true to tradition, we have teamed up with the Schleswig-Holsteinisches Sinfonieorchester to take on the task.

Shostakovich's 4.

Deutsches Haus venues GmbH

He is one of Denmark's greatest singers, but we don't have him to ourselves. Johan Reuter, bass-baritone, sings on the big stages abroad. In recent years, i.a. in the party as the husband Barak in Richard Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten – poignantly sung in e.g. London, New York, Berlin, and fortunately also at the Opera in Copenhagen. Johan Reuter was for a number of years a part of the Kgl. Theater's regular opera ensemble and is still on stage there, most recently in Heise's opera Drot og Marsk, where he played the Martian Stig, who avenges the king's abuse of his wife, with a voice that fits the role completely. A voice that can reach the back rows of the big opera houses, but which also has the finesse that allows him to sing the smaller formats, the songs. Brahms songs, Four serious songs, to texts from the Bible, needs both the power and the fervor Johan Reuter is famous for.

Reuter sings Brahms

In a carefully composed musical sequence, we are led through the heart-rending stories of Easter week until spring and freedom. Orchestral music, arias, lieder, choral songs and group songs create a unified narrative of the journey from festive anticipation through dense darkness to the triumph of light.

The big spring

Sædding Centret

'Fête galante' means love feast and refers to the paintings that show the parties and excesses of the French nobility in the 18th century. In the popular Danish composer Poul Schierbecks Fête galante such a love fest gets out of control when Count René leads the young Suzon into the dark, and this has major consequences. Poul Schierbeck has written the melodies for some of the most popular Danish songs, including "I was born in Denmark", "Hør den lille stær" and "It's today a weather". The main work Fête galante is his only opera.

Fête galante

'DER ER VI' is a new work for orchestra, soloists and choir, where boundaries and their at once intangible and consequential nature unfold through music, language and movement.


A series of simple sentences move through 12 different but closely related languages, where they collide, influence and transform in a clear and immediate tonal language that constantly records and blurs its own boundaries.

Love and attitude

Kulturhus Harmonien

Sønderjylland's Symphony Orchestra is actively involved as part of the region's musical talent development. In this connection, Sønderjylland's Symphony Orchestra collaborates every year with MGK-Syd's classical students on a workshop and an internship in the Alsion concert hall The course includes teaching with the orchestra's musicians as mentors, orchestra rehearsals and playing together in small and large groups. The course culminates when the MGK students take part in a concert side by side with the orchestra's regular musicians, which always guarantees an exciting and festive closing concert.

Our young talents

Rossini knew his means of action, and although there is a long way from the action overture to the opera Wilhelm Tell to his ecclesiastical work Stabat Mater, the works have in common that Rossini knew what he was doing; was it dramatic, heartfelt, cheerful - he could play on all keys. The Stabat Mater is a psalm text from the Middle Ages that tells of Mary's pain as she witnesses her son's crucifixion, and many have set it to music. Rossini is not the only composer to have brought the operatic style into the church, and Rossini's few church musical works are profoundly religious in the language he mastered. Emotional and virtuosic music to the words Grundtvig translated: "Only the tender mother's heart can hold a mother's pain" - the essence of the Stabat Mater.

Choral concert: Rossini's Stabat Mater

If you were at the first performance of Beethoven's Eroica in 1805, one was at a revolutionary, musical historical event. The symphony broke the boundaries. It is the beginning of Beethoven's heroic period, where the music is characterized by the idea of man's, the hero's, struggle for freedom. From the 1st movement bursting with thoughtfulness in the 2nd movement's mourning march and the energy of the 3rd movement, to the finale, which is not tritely triumphant, but subtle and surprising. Even today, when the symphony has been heard countless times, it can blow one away, and stands as one of the greatest symphonies ever. Kuhlau knew Beethoven and conducted his works in Copenhagen. In addition, he traveled twice to Vienna, where he visited him. The music for the play William Shakespeare and to Elverhøj was composed after that – by a German-born Danish composer, inspired by a revolutionary composer.

Grieg's piano concerto

The Hall of Trolls

Sønderjyllandshallen

Where will you be in ten years? Stephanie Childress answers in an interview on meettheartist.online: She thinks that she works with music together with good colleagues, and plays an active role in changing the education in art and music. Because, she says, the earlier you encounter art, the better. It is not a question of educating more musicians, but that everyone should have the opportunity to experience, for example, the classical music – and that is what she wants, to bring classical music and art to as many people as possible. French-British Stephanie Childress herself played the violin as a child. She is not from a musical family, but from a home where all kinds of activities were supported and Tina Turner and David Bowie were listened to. She didn't really want to be a musician, but then she started going to rehearsals for operas instead of classes at school, Britten and Strauss heard, and then she was sold. She continued with the violin, and it provided a foundation for her to begin conducting studies. Today, she has already achieved part of her dream, i.a. conducted at the Glyndebourne opera in England – which is praised as one of the best Mozart interpreters – and was assistant conductor at St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in the USA, as well as 1st guest conductor at the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra from season 24/25. And touring all over the world until then.

Young woman on podium

Violinist Alena Baeva was born in Kyrgyzstan in what was then the Soviet Union. When she was 5 years old, the family had to flee due to civil war. They came to Kazakhstan and later to Moscow when Alena Baeva started studying violin at the conservatory there. Many exams and concerts were part of the teaching, and she liked it - being on stage and sharing the music with others. Today, Alena Baeva lives in Luxembourg with her husband and children, well located near airports and concert halls. Travel is part of a musician's life and you can be completely blown away by her calendar of concerts from Hong Kong to numerous halls in Europe and the USA. Alena Baeva plays both the big concerts and chamber music; chamber music i.a. with Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko. As far as concerts are concerned, she has both the known and the unknown in her repertoire. Among other things, Prokofiev's 2nd violin concerto, which, in order to remain cosmopolitan, was first performed by a French violinist in Madrid in 1935, and was composed in several places while Prokofiev was on his tours as a pianist. After the not-so-frequently played concert, it is Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony with its natural scenes that can be experienced: the trickling of the brook, village festival, thunderstorm, and peaceful shepherd's song after the storm.

Baeva & Beethoven

Present and mature in his playing, a critic wrote after a concert at a German festival about Guido Sant'Anna, born in 2005 in Säo Paulo in Brazil. Sant'Anna won a chamber music prize at the Menuhin Competition at the age of 12, where he was the first Brazilian ever to enter. The youngster said in a small homemade video that he was looking forward to meeting violinists from all over the world, making friends and having fun. In 2022, at the age of 17, he won 1st prize in the Fritz Kreisler Competition – both competitions founded on the shoulders of great violin virtuosos who were aware of young violinists and the opportunities they should be given.

Scandinavian debut

Shostakovich composed his two cello concertos for his friend, the cellist and conductor Rostropovich. The virtuoso 1st and the introverted 2nd Rostropovitch had an international career, and great influence also on a violinist like Anne-Sophie Mutter. And here a connection was made: There is a direct line from Shostakovich to the cellist Daniel Müller-Schott, even though he was born the year after his death. Because through Anne-Sophie Mutter, Müller-Schott became a pupil of Rostropovitch. Not so that he could trudge to a classroom and play, no, he said when he was in Copenhagen a few years ago: Müller-Schott traveled after Rostropovich, because the master could think of calling late in the evening - and that was it to strike. You can imagine it, the young German and the old Russian in a hotel room in Germany somewhere... At the age of 15, Müller-Schott won the fine Tchaikovsky competition for young musicians in Moscow, and with his talent and good teachers, there was no long before he played with great orchestras and fine musicians; the list is long. Müller-Schott has also taken an interest in premiering new works for cello, and working with other art forms, in what seems like an eternal curiosity.

World stars in Sønderborg

Italiensk fortolkning af Mozart

Are you ready to start the new year in style? You are hereby invited to our fantastic New Year's Gala, where we put traditions first and dance into the coming year with the sumptuous sound of beautiful Viennese music! Get ready to be enchanted by the beautiful tones and lively atmosphere that characterize Viennese music – everything from Strauss' An der schönen, the blue Danube to Lumbye Champagne gallop. We also have an exceptional soprano for the concert, the American-Russian soprano Anastasiya Roytman.

Nordstern Arena Horsens

The barrel halls

Ruth Reinhardt was educated in both the violin and in the children's choir at the opera in Saarbrücken, and conducted other young people in an opera she had composed herself when she was only 17. She has conducted many orchestras in the United States and Europe; orchestras that know the broad repertoire, but also manage to create the slender sound we now associate with baroque music.  It is mastered by Ruth Reinhardt, who has been praised for, among other things, that

Bach's Christmas Oratorio

Kristkirkens

Singer and songwriter Helene Blum, together with violinist and composer Harald Haugaard, have distinguished themselves as some of the finest interpreters and innovators of the rich and vibrant Nordic cultural heritage.

Since 2007, they have let the music, traditions and stories of Christmas unfold in an annual Nordic Christmas tour, where their own songs and compositions meet original interpretations of old shows, hymns and dance music in a timeless universe that at once sounds recognizable and but very refreshing. For these concerts, the Nordic Christmas concert unfolds in a large format, when Sønderjylland's Symphony Orchestra meets the two folk musicians under the direction of Phillip Faber.

Nordic Christmas: Blum & Haugaard

A. P. Møller School

Experience Sigurd Barrett, the Sønderjysk Girl Choir and the Boys' Choir, a huge children's choir from the schools in Southern and Southern Jutland as well as Southern Schleswig, when they sing Christmas into a festive repertoire of Christmas carols and Christmas jokes. There is a guarantee of both Christmas spirit, laughter and lots of singing joy!

Sing Christmas in with Sigurd & children's choir

Hotel Nørherredhus

Nordfrieslandhalle

Schweizerhalle - Tønder Kulturhus

Conducting a symphony orchestra is not something you just do – it is a subject that must be learned – and therefore it is crucial that young conducting students get the opportunity to work with a professional symphony orchestra during their education. Sønderjylland's Symphony Orchestra holds conducting seminars every year, where young conducting students, with the advice and guidance of experienced conductors, have the opportunity to learn and develop their conducting skills. This time the seminar ends with an open rehearsal, so that the audience also has the opportunity to get to know new young conductors and maybe even find a young conductor whose career they want to follow in the future.

Conducting seminar

Nielsen and Sibelius – two giants of the 20th century Scandinavian musical tradition, born in the same year in 1865. Both with an international outlook, widely traveled, they each came to define something national. Nielsen was on a long trip around Europe when he met his future wife. They were married in Paris and they were also together in Greece then The Helios Overture was composed, inspired by the strong southern sun. Sibelius's 2nd Symphony is from the previous year, from 1902, and it has been popular since its premiere. Sibelius, who had studied in Berlin and Vienna, was acclaimed for works that were believed to contain the Finnish folk soul.

Øland conducts Nielsen & Sibelius

Look forward to an evening where every stroke of the strings and every note from the flute turns into a story about Danish culture and tradition. Here, memories are awakened and new ones are created when, in true Morten Korch style, we unfold the tones of Danish classic songs , including the heartwarming "The Last Dance" by Kai Normann Andersen and the love-filled "In Love in Copenhagen" by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, as well as music from the beloved TV series monopoly and from The Olsen Gang- the movies. It will be an evening where the music becomes a journey through time and emotions, and where you will experience Danish music in its most beautiful and most vivid way.

Danish classics

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, premiered in Frankfurt in 1937, is a work that still works. It is music for mundane medieval texts, quite juicy in places: the carnal relationships are not hidden. Translations of the songs, which are mostly in Latin, were handed out before the premiere, and the young people must have been somewhat embarrassed. Orff's music is effective because he has both a sense of melody and rhythm with the use of percussion, which Orff often used. It was during the Nazi rule that Carmina Burana was premiered, and the critics did not quite agree: the focus on rhythm was considered "primitive", the lyrics were daring, but the work was also popular and accepted in its time. Orff's own relationship with the regime has since been discussed. He himself was most interested in getting his music out. Carmina Burana is an effective example of that.

Janz conducts Carmina Burana

Conductor Nikolai Malko was born in Ukraine in 1883, was educated at St. Petersburg and worked as both conductor and teacher, but left what had become the Soviet Union in 1929 and did not return. In return, he gained invaluable importance for e.g. The Radio Symphony Orchestra, now the DR Symphony Orchestra, here in Denmark. He helped to build the orchestra and was on the podium when the first Thursday concert was played in 1933. Although he settled in the USA, he was a regular guest conductor of the orchestra and therefore a few years after his death the first international conducting competition was held under his name. It has been held under the auspices of DR since 1965. It is a competition for young conductors who, in addition to money, probably just as importantly win more engagements so that they can perform as they should - on the podium in front of an orchestra.

Malko winner 2024

Conductor Jonathan Bloxham is from the north-east of England, a region where both the Romans and the Vikings have ruled - a region with a proud history and beautiful nature. Although Jonathan Bloxham now conducts in many places in the world, he still has an important contact with his home region, where he has created an annual festival which, among other things, promotes lesser-known and emerging composers and enlists young musicians from around the world to inspire audiences of all ages. Maybe also to record the music yourself. Jonathan Bloxham began taking cello lessons at the age of 8 at the local music school and continued at the Yehudi Menuhin School before coming to London. A childhood dream was to become a conductor. He succeeded, and he began as assistant conductor at the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Since then, he has conducted in many places and is now director of the opera in Lucerne in Switzerland, where he will set the artistic line. He is also the conductor of the London Mozart Players, and here the interest in getting the music out widely is also expressed, e.g. when the orchestra invited local amateur musicians to play in their hall, when the hometown of Croydon, south of London, was a city of culture. Bloxham believes that if you only get people in once for a classical concert, they will probably give up.

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