For 25 years, the Odeonsplatz Concert has been an open-air highlight of the classical music summer, attracting over 16,000 viewers each year. In balmy summer temperatures, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, led by its designated chief conductor Lahav Shani, delivered a radiant performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with star soloist Lisa Batiashvili, whose interpretation held the audience spellbound. The evening culminated in a powerful rendition of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, filling the stage with sweeping orchestral colour. “Powerful and magical” (Münchner Merkur) PROGRAM Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major; Massenet: Meditation from Thaïs; Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45; Dvorak : Slavonic Dance, Op. 46, No. 8
Lahav Shani conducts the 80 Years of Liberation – May 8 Concert
On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, known as Liberation Day in Germany, conductor Lahav Shani unites musicians from the Israel Philharmonic and the Münchner Philharmoniker for “a highly emotional performance” (Münchner Merkur) in the Isarphilharmonie. The two orchestras start their first ever collaboration with the deeply moving Prayer, a piece by 97-yearold Israeli composer Tzvi Avni, who travelled to Munich to witness this historic occasion. Then, the musicians come together to shape Mahler’s monumental Sixth Symphony. Shani’s Mahler is “robust, dark, rough, seeking depth” and manages to “achieve the ultimate in tragic expression here – horror and emotion give way to catharsis, to spiritual cleansing” (Süddeutsche Zeitung). PROGRAM: Avni: Prayer; Mahler: Symphony No. 6
Mehta conducts Brahms
“Such a colourful, substantial, supple legato has not been heard even from this orchestra for a long time” (Münchner Abendzeitung) “The two solo instruments seemed to merge into one voice at times, but at the same time were given ample opportunity to demonstrate their individual virtuosic qualities” (BR Klassik) Zubin Mehta’s performance of Brahms’ 3rd Symphony with the Münchner Philharmoniker showcases his mastery and control over the orchestra through minimalist gestures. The concert features soloists Lisa Batiashvili and Gautier Capuçon, who deliver a rich interpretation of the double concerto, blending their distinctive sounds harmoniously. PROGRAM: Brahms – Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra in A minor, Op. 102; Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
Lahav Shani conducts Bach and Bruckner
The Münchner Philharmoniker and Lahav Shani go together like, well, like the Münchner Philharmoniker and Anton Bruckner! The orchestra’s Bruckner tradition goes back to 1932, when the original version of Symphony No. 9 in D minor was premiered in Munich. With this performance of the Ninth, it is evident that Shani wants to keep this tradition alive with this orchestra: “Long silence after the last note, then standing ovations. Not for a long time has Bruckner been heard here so well, so fulfilled, so logically” (Müncher Merkur). The other half of the concert is dedicated to Bach, as Shani himself took a seat at the grand piano to play the piano concerto No. 1 in D minor: “Shani does not play with a hard, crystalline touch, but rather with a velvety one, but above all with a natural virtuosity. This is music among friends – a sentiment felt by the audience” (Münchner Merkur). PROGRAM: Bruckner – Symphony n. 9; Bach – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor
Odeonsplatz Concert 2024: Lahav Shani & Anne-Sophie Mutter
For over 20 years, the Odeonsplatz Concert has been an open-air highlight of the classical music summer, attracting over 16,000 viewers each year. In this concert event, conductor Lahav Shani leads the Münchner Philharmoniker in a varied programme “with his elegant, sensual and dance-like way of conducting…Shani is likely to win many points of favour with the concert audience. He has obviously won over the orchestra members long ago” (Münchner Merkur). Violin superstar Anne-Sophie Mutter shines in Saint-Saëns‘ virtuosic Introduction et Rondo capriccioso as well as a wonderful assortment of John Williams. “It’s been a long time since [the Odeonsplatz concert] has been this exciting” (Abendzeitung). PROGRAM: Weber – Overture to “Oberon”; Saint-Saëns – Introduction et Rondo capriccioso; Stravinsky – Firebird Suite (excerpt); Dukas – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice; Williams – Music from “The Witches of Eastwick”, “Sabrina”, “Harry Potter”, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, Imperial March from “Star Wars”
Järvi & Sidorova – Münchner Philharmoniker
“Latvian soloist Ksenija Sidorova…has true star quality – and yet always lets her instrument take centre stage” (Münchner Merkur) The Münchner Philharmoniker concert features Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi and Latvian accordionist Ksenija Sidorova. The program includes Debussy’s early piece “Printemps,” showcasing the orchestra’s subtlety. Sidorova performs “Prophecy,” an accordion and orchestra work by Erkki-Sven Tüür, known for its virtuosity and emotional final movement. The concert concludes with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5, highlighting its bright mid-summer qualities. PROGRAM: Debussy – “Printemps”, Suite (arr. by Henri Büsser); Tüür – “Prophecy”; Sibelius – Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82
The Odeonsplatz Concert 2023 – Lang Lang & Orozco-Estrada
Classical music in a unique atmosphere, with top-class ensembles, conductors and soloists on one of the most magnificent squares in Europe are the ingredients for the success story of “Klassik am Odeonsplatz”. Since its founding in 2000, the open-air has become a firmly established highlight of Munich’s cultural life, attracting 16,000 music fans every year. This edition features piano superstar Lang Lang and charismatic Colombian conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Their can’t-miss program is made up exclusively of high Romantic classics, from Wagner’s famous Tannhäuser Overture and Grieg’s Piano Concerto to Richard Strauss’s exquisite tone poem Don Juan and, finally, Tchaikovsky’s sweeping Romeo and Juliet, whose rapturous main theme instantly calls to mind the greatest love stories ever told. An evening to revel in, to dream about and to thrill. “Everything is just right. A fabulous open-air feast.” (Münchner Merkur) “You can’t wish for more, you can’t do better.” (Abendzeitung)
Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the Münchner Philharmoniker
“Nathalie Stutzmann triumphed on her debut with the Münchner Philharmoniker as unpretentiously as precisely.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) French conductor Nathalie Stutzmann, newly appointed music director in Atlanta, makes her debut with the Münchner Philharmoniker with a “fateful” program: Johannes Brahms’ Schicksalslied (Song of Fate), which was written close in time to his Requiem, is based on a poem by Hölderlin. In contrast to the poem, Brahms lets his musical Schicksalslied end in hopeful tones. Max Reger’s Requiem is a haunting lament in view of the senseless victims of the First World War. Wiebke Lehmkuhl through her singing underlines the appeal against indifference and forgetfulness. Tchaikovsky’s “Fifth” with its omnipresent “fate motif” concludes this concert. Programme: J. Brahms: “Schicksalslied” (Song of Destiny) for choir and orchestra, Op. 54; M. Reger: Requiem for alto, choir and orchestra, Op. 144/B; P. I. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
The Odeonsplatz Concert: Harding & Kavakos
“Kavakos plays Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with a Kavakos-like supremacy making every trill flash and carving out every piece of scale with iron precision. […] It’s all about conciseness, about attitude, a kind of highly energetic music-making that knows no limits of expression.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) “Klassik am Odeonsplatz” is a summer highlight in the musical life of the Bavarian capital. This concert from the 2022 edition features famous masterpieces as Dvorák “New World” Symphony and the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto played by Leonidas Kavakos together with Daniel Harding on the podium of the Münchner Philharmoniker. PROGRAM: Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto; Dvorák: Symphony No. 9; Johann Strauss: Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka
The Odeonsplatz Concert: Viotti & Wang
The Odeonsplatz is one of the most beautiful places in Munich. The surrounding historic buildings distinguish this location as an open-air arena for about 8,000 spectators. The square is named after a popular concert hall, the Odeon, which was built by Ludwig I of Bavaria in the early 19th century. “Klassik am Odeonsplatz” is a summer highlight in the musical life of the Bavarian capital. Yuja Wang shines in Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, furthermore Lorenzo Viotti conducts popular works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Chabrier, and Ravel. PROGRAM Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol; Chabrier: Espana; Ravel: Bolero