The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra wants to venture into "new worlds" with its new chief conductor Sir Donald Runnicles. This is the city orchestra's motto for the coming season. Becoming chief conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic opens up a new world for him, the 70-year-old Briton said at the launch of the season. He also associates "new worlds" with artistic projects ranging from the "British Festival" to a concert performance of Strauss' opera "Elektra" and a tour of Asia.
Music from Great Britain sets the tone
"The composers and works from my British homeland are particularly close to my heart, including Holst's 'Planets' and works by Ralph Vaughan Williams and William Walton as well as the compositions of Sir James MacMillan, whom we were able to win as "Composer in Residence"," emphasized Runnicles.
Sir Donald Runnicles as conductor of a tram
Dresden will thus become "very British", said Mayor of Culture Annekatrin Klepsch (Linke), welcoming the conductor. Runnicles had wished to ride a Dresden streetcar himself to explore the city. A video of the ride was shown at the press conference for the season.
Philharmonie wants to present itself as a modern concert orchestra
According to Artistic Director Frauke Roth, the Philharmonie wants to make a clear statement as a modern concert orchestra in the new season. "New worlds" means "rethinking music" - for example through innovative concert formats, fresh programmatic impulses and an open dialog with the audience. The "British Festival" in November is exemplary of this approach. The focus of "British Spotlights" will once again be on Great Britain in spring 2026.
The title of "Principal Guest Conductor" will be held by Norwegian Tabita Berglund from next season. She will conduct the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra several times a season in future. Pianist Boris Giltburg has been announced as "Artist in Residence". The Briton Anna Lapwood will be the palace organist. In addition to Runnicles, Vasily Petrenko, Andrew Manze, Michael Sanderling, Christoph Eschenbach and other conductors will also be conducting the Philharmonie.
"Stars at the piano" series
A new "Stars at the piano" series will see Grigory Sokolov, Víkingur Ólafsson and the brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen, among others, take to the keys. The Philharmonie has also invited Gabriela Montero, Yulianna Avdeeva, Alexandra Dovgan and Bertrand Chamayou to perform piano concerts. Tours will take the orchestra to Italy and Asia twice.
The Philharmonie is also breaking new ground with "Amazônia" - a project with recordings by Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado and music by Villa-Lobos and Philipp Glass. The images are an artistic examination of the threat to the Amazon rainforest and are intended to unfold a suggestive power in combination with the music, it was said.
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