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New York Philharmonic play concerts on Usedom | NDR.de – Culture

Status: 05/20/2022 10:10 a.m

A five meter high replica of Lady Liberty stands in the seaside resort of Heringsdorf on Usedom and points to the highlight of the year: the concerts of the New York Philharmonic from today until May 24th – with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Thomas Hampson, among others.

The New York Philharmonic are currently guests on Usedom. The world-famous orchestra performs at Usedom Music Festival on. The festival celebrates “20 Years of Peenemünde Concerts”.

AUDIO: The “New York Philharmonic” Orchestra as a guest in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (1 min)

Director Thomas Hummel promotes cohesion

Festival director Thomas Hummel said that in Peenemünde, where the National Socialists once built weapons of mass destruction, it is particularly important in these times, in times of war, that we strive for understanding and cohesion. Hummel has been working towards this moment for ten years. In 2012 he spoke to Kurt Masur for the first time about it, he was honorary music director in New York. “First I said everyone wants the New York Philharmonic. We have very specific ideas for a hotel, we need 150 rooms for such an orchestra and it has been built in the meantime. That made it possible to invite the orchestra . But it took a few years.”

Anne-Sophie Mutter as a soloist

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The New York Philharmonic is making a guest appearance today at a place steeped in history: the power plant of the former Nazi army research institute in Peenemünde. more




It is the world-famous orchestra’s first tour abroad since 2019. The ensemble has arrived with more than 100 orchestra musicians. Three Peenemünde concerts are planned in the large power plant hall, including a public dress rehearsal, and two chamber music concerts in Heringsdorf and Wolgast. Among the soloists is star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter.

On the site of the former army research institute, the Nazis developed rockets which, according to the planners, should also have destroyed New York. This is one of the reasons why it is a very special guest performance for chief conductor Jaap van Zweden. “Especially now at this time it is important to remember that music can bring peace, the peace of being human. Especially now that Russia is waging this war against Ukraine, our orchestra’s message must be that music is one of the solutions to get closer to each other as people.”

The Usedom Music Festival is supported by NDR.

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The Statue of Liberty in small on the beach of Usedom.  © Usedom Music Festival Photo: Geert Maciejewski


The director of the Usedom Music Festival has been working towards this for over ten years: now the New York Philharmonic is coming to the festival. more




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NDR Culture | Classic on the go | 05/19/2022 | 06:00 a.m


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