Conductor Herbert Blomstedt, with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and soprano Regula Mühlemann, opens the 35th Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival (MVFestival) with works by Bach and Beethoven at the Gothic St. George’s Church (Georgenkirche) in Wismar. Herbert Blomstedt will turn 98 in July, making him the oldest active conductor in the world. He was also the permanent conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie from 1996-1998. The concert will be broadcast this afternoon, June 13, 2025, on NDR radio and live-streamed on the orchestra’s website (at 6:00 PM local time and 7:00 PM Greek time).
In the first part of the concert, the Kammerchor der Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock, conducted by Csaba Grünfelder, will perform the world premiere of the festive overture Aus dem Hohelied der Liebe (From the Song of Love) for unaccompanied choir, with text from the First Epistle to the Corinthians by the Apostle Paul. The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival commissions a new work for its official opening each year, and this year the commission was given to three young composers, students in the composition class at the Rostock University of Music and Theatre: Ioannis Zabczuk Behrend (*1997), Leon Kropp (*1999), Yoona Hong (*2000).
You can download the detailed concert program (in German) here.
PROGRAM
Ioannis Zabczuk Behrend (*1997), Leon Kropp (*1999), Yoona Hong (*2000)
Festspiel-Ouvertüre »Aus dem Hohelied der Liebe« für Chor a cappella
»Autem factus sum vir«
»Omnia sustinet«
»Caritas numquam excidit!«
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Cantata Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (Shout for joy to God in all lands) for soprano and orchestra BWV 51
Aria Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen
Recitativo Wir beten zu dem Tempel an
Aria Höchster, mache deine Güte
Choral Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren
Aria Alleluja!
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
Adagio molto — Allegro con brio
Larghetto
Scherzo. Allegro
Allegro molto
Festspiel-Ouvertüre »Aus dem Hohelied der Liebe« für Chor a cappella
World premiere, commissioned by the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
»Autem factus sum vir«
»Omnia sustinet«
»Caritas numquam excidit!«
Opening speeches
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Cantata »Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen« for soprano and orchestra BWV 51
Aria »Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen«
Recitativo »Wir beten zu dem Tempel an«
Aria »Höchster, mache deine Güte«
Choral »Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren«
Aria »Alleluja!«
Intermission
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
Adagio molto — Allegro con brio
Larghetto
Scherzo. Allegro
Allegro molto
