Anniversary concert Cologne Philharmonic Hall
Program
WDR Sinfonieorchester
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Sinfonie Nr. 5 d-Moll op 107
»Reformationssinfonie«
Jörg Widmann
ad absurdum Konzertstück für Trompete und kleines Orchester
Gürzenich-Orchester
Johannes Brahms
Gesang aus Fingal op. 17 Nr. 4
1860
Richard Strauss
Also sprach Zarathustra op. 30, TrV 176
1896
Cast
Sergei Nakariakov
trumpet
Pierre Charial
barrel organ
WDR Sinfonieorchester
Jörg Widmann
conductor
Project choir of the Cologne Choir Network
Andrés Orozco-Estrada
conductor
Gürzenich-Orchestra Cologne
Dates
23.04.2026
Four decades of musical excellence: 40 years ago, on 14 September 1986, the Cologne Philharmonic Hall opened its doors – with a programme featuring Romantic classics and contemporary music.
The anniversary concert builds on these early days, featuring Mendelssohn’s ‘Reformation Symphony’ with its solemn chorale at the end and the monumental sunrise at the beginning of Strauss’s famous tone poem ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’, as well as the concert piece ‘ad absurdum’ by contemporary composer Jörg Widmann. To this end, Cologne’s two major orchestras are joining forces: the WDR Symphony Orchestra and the Gürzenich Orchestra, which was already part of the celebratory opening concert 40 years ago. Cologne’s General Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada ensures the necessary overview of this massive ensemble.
Supported by the Kuratorium KölnMusik e.V.
