The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Welsh composer Sir Karl Jenkins is the most performed work by any living composer. This performance is the largest ever staged and was uniquely performed in synchronisation with a specially commissioned war-archive film reinforcing the narrative of the work – the build up to war, war itself and the consequences of war. Projected on to five giant screens, the film delivers a poignant backdrop to the moving musical narration providing the audience with a powerful and emotional multimedia experience. In this truly unique historic occasion Sir Karl Jenkins conducts The World Orchestra for Peace and around 2,000 singers from nearly 30 countries who joined together to Sing for Peace in Berlin.
Missa solemnis
Longstanding artistic collaborators, the conductor Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker present a magnificent performance of one of Beethoven’s greatest masterpieces. At the age of 54 in 1824, Beethoven was at the height of his art: he would premiere both his Missa Solemnis and his celebrated Ninth Symphony in the same year! Despite total deafness, it is a testament to the brilliance of his works that they would influence European contemporary composers of all stripes, from Rossini and Schubert to Weber and Liszt. Beethoven suffered from illness constantly beginning in 1825, eventually dying two years later during a violent storm.
Duran Duran play Baloise Session
Duran Duran is a British new wave and pop rock band that was founded in the early 1980s and is one of the style-defining acts of the decade. Known for their glamorous style, innovative music videos and danceable synth pop, they were instrumental in the MTV era. The band consists of Simon Le Bon (vocals), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), John Taylor (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums). Their biggest hits: Hungry Like the Wolf (1982) – breakthrough in the USA, iconic video and catchy tune. Rio (1982) – synthpop classic with tropical flair and catchy chorus. The Reflex (1984) – number 1 hit in the UK and the USA, produced by Nile Rodgers. Ordinary World (1993) – emotional comeback song of the 90s with strong airplay. A View to a Kill (1985) – title song of the James Bond film of the same name, to date the only Bond song to reach number 1 in the US charts. Save a Prayer (1982) – atmospheric ballad with great fan popularity.
Aloe Blacc plays Baloise Session
Aloe Blacc is an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and rapper. He began his musical career at in the hip-hop duo Emanon before turning to soul and pop as a solo artist . Aloe Blacc had his international breakthrough in 2010 with the hit I Need a Dollar, which achieved great fame through the HBO series How to Make It in America . Another worldwide success was The Man (2014), in which he took up elements of Elton John’s “Your Song” – this song was also used in an advertising campaign by Beats by Dre . In addition, Aloe Blacc became famous as the singer of the mega-hit Wake Me Up by Avicii (2013). Although the song was officially released under the DJ’s name , the distinctive vocals were sung by Blacc, which made him known to an even wider audience. He is known for his profound lyrics, which often deal with social and personal issues, as well as his blend of soul, R&B, pop and folk.
Tom Gregory plays Baloise Session
Tom Gregory is a British singer-songwriter and pop musician who is best known for his catchy melodies and emotional lyrics. Since his breakthrough, he has established himself as an up-and-coming artist on the international music scene, with his style often incorporating a blend of pop, soul and dance elements. Some of his biggest hits include: Run to You, Fingertips, Small Steps and Never Let Me Down
Jon Batiste plays Baloise Session
Jon Batiste is an American musician, singer, composer and bandleader who is known for his cross-genre musicality and charismatic appearance. His style combines jazz, soul, funk, R&B and classical music to create a unique sound. He became known to a wide audience as musical director and bandleader of the “Stay Human” band on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”. However, his creative versatility is most evident in his solo work. His greatest successes include: Freedom – an energetic, funky song about self-determination, which won him the Grammy Award for “Best Music Video” in 2022. It’s All Right – from the soundtrack of the Pixar film Soul, on which Batiste worked. For his work on the soundtrack, he won the 2021 Oscar for Best Film Score. Jon Batiste is regarded as a musical visionary who transcends cultural boundaries with every release and celebrates the power of music.
Dermot Kennedy plays Baloise Session
Dermot Kennedy is a talented and popular Irish singer and songwriter who has won the hearts of millions of fans with his soulful and powerful voice. He is best known for his hit singles “Outnumbered” and “Paradise,” which showcase his blend of folk, pop, and hip-hop influences. He has also released two successful studio albums, Without Fear in 2019 and Sonder in 2022, which have received critical acclaim and commercial success. He is one of the most streamed artists in the world, with over 10 billion streams across all platforms.
Larkin Poe play Baloise Session
On Larkin Poe’s sixth studio album “Bloom”, the two sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell present eleven songs with a successful mix of southern rock, blues and Americana. The sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell founded the band “Larkin Poe” in 2010 as a follow-up project to the bluegrass band “Lovell Sisters”. Over a period of five years, the two US-Americans from Atlanta/Georgia tried their hand at different musical styles. Initially, they moved in the folk and singer/songwriter department. Later, they opted for blues and pop and you can also find hard rock sounds and southern rock elements in their songs. Last year they were awarded a Grammy for “Best Contemporary Blues Album”.
John Scofield’s Long Days Quartet in Rome
After experimenting with different ensembles, John Scofield has configured a new group for the summer of 2025. Naming it Long Days Quartet in honor of the long daylight hours of July, this group is forming now to debut Scofield’s groovy new compositions and revisit some of his classics with fresh perspectives. Twenty-six years after their first collaboration (Scofield’s “A GoGo” album), keyboardist John Medeski and Scofield continue their fantastic collaboration together. For this concert at Casa del Jazz in Rome inside the SUMMERTIME Festival, they will be joined by the brilliant and versatile bassist Vicente Archer and a new team member, Seattle’s Ted Poor on drums.
Sophie-Ellis Bextor plays Baloise Session
With a blend of disco and ’80s synth-pop in her dance music, Sophie Ellis-Bextor emerged as a major force in British pop music during the 2000s, dominating the U.K. and European charts. Initially rising to stardom with the Brit-pop band “theaudience”, Sophie Ellis-Bextor established herself as a pop sensation with the hit single “Murder on the Dancefloor,” which drove her debut album, “Read My Lips”, to the second position on the U.K. charts in 2001. A constant presence on the international charts, she then achieved top 20 success with albums like “Shoot from the Hip”, “Trip the Light Fantastic” and “Make a Scene”. Despite her roots in dance music, she has diversified her musical style by teaming up with renowned artist Ed Harcourt on a range of folk and orchestral pop projects, such as Wanderlust in 2014, Familia in 2016, and Hana in 2023. As a journey into her major hits and new songs, her Baloise Session show will be a blast.