Turn old into new – a tried and tested approach, but can you do the same with Vivaldi’s legendary Four Seasons? Organist Anna Lapwood’s answer is clear: ‘Nothing is off limits!’ After the release of his album ‘Recomposed’, composer Max Richter initially expected fierce criticism. But the opposite happened – he hit a nerve: over 450 million streams, concerts in classical halls as well as in clubs such as Berghain Berlin or Poisson Rouge in New York, and the distribution of individual tracks in the Bridgerton series testify to the success of the reinterpretation. What’s touching people when they hear ‘Recomposed’? In this magic moment, prominent artists and contemporary witnesses embark on a journey through the music, recall performance challenges and personal highlights, and explain how the British composer Max Richter put his hand to the 300-year-old work.
Magic Moments of Music – The New York Philharmonic in Pyongyang
In 2008, the New York Philharmonic accepted an unexpected invitation to Pyongyang. 55 years after the Korean War, American musicians set foot on North Korean soil for the first time. Under chief conductor Lorin Maazel, they perform Dvorák’s ‘From the New World’ in front of an initially icy and formal audience. The Korean folk song ‘Arirang’ finally breaks down all barriers. This magic moment is a historic concert that transcends borders and shows how music can unite people where politics fails.
Sibelius – Complete Symphonies
It couldn’t be more authentic: the Philharmonic Orchestra Helsinki performs all seven symphonies by Jean Sibelius live in the spectacular concert hall of the Finnish capital’s modern Music Centre — the place where almost all of them had their premieres. Over a period of approximately 25 years, Jean Sibelius composed his seven symphonies. All of them, except for the seventh, were premiered in Helsinki under the composer’s own direction. Now, more than 100 years later, a symphony cycle by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by its chief conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste, offers a unique and moving experience. The Symphonies were recorded between 2023 and 2025.
Asmik Grigorian – The Kaunas Concert
In January 2025, Lithuanian star soprano Asmik Grigorian performed in Kaunas, in one of the most beautiful cathedrals of her homeland. With sacred opera arias and orchestral songs by Verdi, Bellini, Komitas, and others, she enchanted an enthusiastic audience. Joining her in this concert are the fantastic Ukrainian tenor Dmytro Popov and the charismatic cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper. Under the baton of Constantine Orbelian, the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra and the Kaunas State Choir make this concert an unforgettable experience. 63′ is an Asmik Grigorian only version.