The spectacular Elbphilarmonie Hamburg rising over the River Elbe. © Thies Raetzke
A new musical and architectural landmark rises in the Elbphilarmonie Hamburg.
The Elbphilarmonie Hamburg. © Iwan Baan
After a delay of more than half a decade, the Elbphilarmonie Hamburg finally opens its doors today with inaugural concerts that feature, in the best traditions of classical music, a cast of thousands. The spectacular building, perched on the edge of the River Elbe and surrounded on three sides by water, consists of three concert halls, a large musical education area, gastronomy destinations, hotel, private apartments and public plaza that offers visitors a unique panoramic view of the entire city. . Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, the concert hall sits on top of a brick warehouse foundation and is supported by 1,700 reinforced concrete piles, while its glass structure, with its wave-like top, rises 110m into the sky.
Today and tomorrow’s opening concerts, themed Here Time Becomes Space, will feature the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester (formerly the NDR Philharmonie Orchester), the NDR and Bayerischer Rundfunk choirs, tenor Pavol Breslik, soprano Anja Harteros, alto Wiebke Lehmkuhl, countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, bass-baritone Bryn Terfel and Iveta Apkalna on the organ. Conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock, Principal Conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, the music programme will include works by Beethoven, Cavalieri, Liebermann, Messiaen, Praetorius, Rihm, Wagner and Zimmermann.
