When does the concert start?

The concert starts on May 7, 2026, at 8:00 PM.

Where does the event take place?

At the Isarphilharmonie in Gasteig HP8 in Munich.

Which works are on the program?

Haydn's Symphony in D Major, Adámek's Where Are You, and Brahms' Fourth Symphony will be performed.

Is there a concert introduction?

Yes, on May 7, 2026, at 6:45 PM.

Is the hall wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the Isarphilharmonie offers wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms.

How do I get there best?

Most easily by public transport; there are only limited parking options on site.

Rattle and Kožená shape an evening full of symphonic tension in Munich

Name: Sir Simon Rattle & Magdalena Kožená: Haydn, Adámek, Brahms in Munich
Start: 2026-05-07T22:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-08T00:00:00+02:00
Location: Isarphilharmonie

An evening full of tension, brilliance, and orchestral depth at the Isarphilharmonie

When Sir Simon Rattle and Magdalena Kožená meet the Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio on May 7, 2026, at the Isarphilharmonie, a concert experience with great range emerges: from the classical form consciousness of Joseph Haydn to the contemporary sound language of Ondřej Adámek and the existential breadth of Johannes Brahms. The program combines musical discipline, emotional density, and that special live atmosphere that Rattle has been known for over the years.

Haydn as a sparkling opener

Joseph Haydn's Symphony in D Major, Hob. I:86, opens the evening with lightness, esprit, and fine orchestration. Sir Simon Rattle has always described Haydn as a lifelong companion; in the concert hall, this becomes a buoyant, pointed beginning that immediately heightens the acoustics of the Isarphilharmonie. Especially in this space, precise woodwind accents and chamber music transparency unfold their full effect.

Adámek's Where Are You as a dramatic centerpiece

With Ondřej Adámek's song cycle Where Are You, the concert moves into that zone where language, voice, and orchestra merge into a suggestive whole. The cycle, commissioned by musica viva of the Bavarian Radio and the London Symphony Orchestra, relies on quasi-ritual elements and an unusually dense treatment of words. Magdalena Kožená brings her unique mezzo-soprano color to this work, transforming the premiere history into an immediate live experience in front of the audience.

Brahms with melancholic grandeur

After the intermission, Johannes Brahms spans the great arc with his Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98. This score unites formal mastery, inner tension, and a melancholic undertone that is particularly intense in the concert hall. Under Rattle's direction, analytical clarity meets emotional warmth; the result is a symphonic narrative that fills the hall with powerful calm.

The special charm of this evening

The interplay between conductor, soloist, and orchestra promises the highest precision and impressive audience atmosphere. The Isarphilharmonie, with its acoustics optimized for classical music, provides the ideal framework: clear contours, great presence, and an immediate closeness to the stage action. Those who attend this evening will experience a concert that spans classicism, the present, and symphonic mastery.

Conclusion: Sir Simon Rattle and Magdalena Kožená present a program in Munich that is witty, emotional, and acoustically highly attractive. Anyone wishing to experience great orchestral art in the live atmosphere of the Isarphilharmonie should mark this date on their calendar.