Festival Programme
The focus of this year's programme is the European idea: freedom, equality, solidarity! 17 evening concerts, six ensemble concerts and a day full of diverse programmes for children await the audience at the Konzerthaus Berlin. From 1 to 17 August, young musicians will bring their skills to the stage with dedication and enthusiasm: in great symphonies, new works and music from their home countries, flanked by jazz concerts and dance. Next to the presentation of western classical music, six young ensembles performing at the festival within the festival will illustrate how they continue the artistic musical traditions of their home countries today, celebrating the diversity of musical creativity.
Opening concert!
The Romanian National Youth Orchestra under the direction of Katharina Wincor performs brilliantly at the start of the festival with Rachmaninov's ‘Symphonic Dances’, which the composer himself described as his best work..
ADRIAN POP · “Hore” (2018, German Premiere)
JEAN SIBELIUS · Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D-minor Op. 47 (1903-1904, rev. 1905)
SERGEI RACHMANINOV · Symphonic Dances Op. 45 (1940)
DOS PARES DE LA OEIN / NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF ROMANIA · A dialogue without words
(Two Pairs of the Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos)
An ensemble concert in the Werner-Otto-Hall that brings the Andes to life! Four young musicians play - literally - with tradition and modernity.
An exciting debut at Young Euro Classic: the still young Yerevan Youth Symphony Orchestra presents a challenging programme under the direction of Sergey Smbatyan, presents Dvořák's symphony “From the New World” as well as one of Armenia's most iconic solo concertos.
EDVARD GRIEG · “Peer Gynt” Suite No. 1 Op. 46 (1874-75/1885)
ALEXANDER ARUTJUNJAN · Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (1950)
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK · Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” in E-minor Op. 95 (1893)
ALE, ALE! / YEREVAN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · A dialogue without words
The traditional Joik singing form of the indigenous Sámi in northern Fennoscandia is combined by the Sápmi duo with the modern sounds of electric guitar and synthesiser. The concert takes place at the Werner-Otto-Hall.
Finally back at Young Euro Classic! Spain's national youth orchestra brings an iconic work of Spanish music, a world premiere and the showpiece of ambitious youth orchestras to Berlin.
FABIÁ SANTCOVSKY · “Concierto de los Elementos I & II” for Violin and Orchestra (World Premiere)
ISAAC ALBÉNIZ · Suite “Iberia” (1905-1909) arr. Francisco Guerrero (Excerpts)
IGOR STRAVINSKY · “Le Sacre du printemps” (1911-1913)
For the thirteenth time, the National Youth Ballet under the artistic directorship of Kevin Haigen presents an extraordinary evening of dance at Young Euro Classic. This season, the National Youth Ballet will once again present excerpts from its diverse repertoire of choreographies, some of which were developed by the dancers themselves.
This is what Europe sounds like! The best young instrumentalists from all EU countries present a programme full of orchestral highlights.
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR · “The Bamboula” from “Rhapsodic Dances” No. 1 Op. 75 (1911)
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH · Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1 in E-flat-major Op. 107 (1959)
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK · Symphony No. 8 in G-Major Op. 88 (1889)
From the north of Great Britain! The sound of the accordion, rarely heard in the concert hall, is followed by Berlioz's lavish Symphonie fantastique.
ANNA CLYNE · “This Midnight Hour/Cette heure de minuit” (2015)
JAY CAPPERAULD · “Galvanic Dances” for Accordion and Orchestra (2025, German Premiere)
HECTOR BERLIOZ · “Symphonie fantastique” Op. 14 (1830)
An exciting jazz debut at Young Euro Classic 2025: The JM Jazz World Orchestra under the artistic direction of Luis Bonilla! On the programme: tailored arrangements that reflect the diversity and spirit of this unique ensemble.
Dream team: the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra and Michael Sanderling. A Shostakovich evening that is likely to resonate for a long time to come.
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH · Symphony No. 7 in C-major Op. 60 “Leningrad” (1941)
A musical jungle adventure about courage, resourcefulness and friendship.
Your ears and hands are needed here! In the QuerKlang workshops, we build our own instruments, change the space through sounds and create a forest of noises.
Making music instead of just listening: that’s what the Instrument Stand and Percussion Workshop from the “Klingendes Museum” are all about!
Feel the beat! Together with his acoustic guitar and a loop station, Mando Beatbox becomes a one-man orchestra – and his mouth the main instrument.
A musical jungle adventure about courage, resourcefulness and friendship.
Explore your voice and make it resound! Whether by speaking, making noises or singing, in this workshop you can get to know your voice in a completely new way.
Adventurous listeners welcome! The participants of the workshop ‘Sound Experiments’ will perform their self-composed piece - a world premiere of a special kind.
From classical to contemporary Georgian - with the 15-year-old rising star Tsotne Zedginidze at the piano.
LASHA KHARKHELAURI · “May blindness lead me to the familiar place” (2025, German Premiere)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART · Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 9 in E-flat-major K. 271 (1777)
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN · Symphony No. 7 in A-major Op. 92 (1811-1812)
SIMPAY PANARATAS / TBILISI YOUTH ORCHESTRA · A dialogue without words
Gamelan Degung with a modern twist! With contemporary and traditional compositions, the Simpay Panaratas ensemble from West Java fills the Werner-Otto-Hall with the dreamy sounds of traditional instruments from the Indonesian islands.
‘Somewhere in the world...’: The Bundesjazzorchester (Bujazzo) dedicates its new programme to legendary melodies by artists persecuted under the Nazi regime.
Goddesses, prophets and the kingdom of heaven: in the National Youth Orchestra, exceptional musical talents aged between 14 and 19 dedicate themselves to works by Say, Bernstein and Mahler!
FAZIL SAY · “Ana Tanriça (Mother Goddess)” Overture for Orchestra Op. 75 (2017)
LEONARD BERNSTEIN · Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah” (1943)
GUSTAV MAHLER · Symphony No. 4 in G-major (1899-1901)
An evening with the Nationaal Jeugdorkest is always a pleasure. At this concert, you can hear what it sounds like when an orchestra is given free rein!
RICHARD WAGNER · “Tristan und Isolde”: Prelude and Liebestod WWV 90 (1857-1859)
ANNA MEREDITH · “HandsFree” (2012)
SERGEI PROKOFIEV · “Romeo et Juliet” Op. 64, Excerpts from all the Suites (1935-1936)
The Norwegian Ungdomssymfonikerne explore the highs and lows of Mahler's First Symphony and Berg's moving Violin Concerto with violin virtuoso Liza Ferschtman.
THERESE BIRKELUND ULVO · “Friction Forward” (2025, German Premiere)
ALBAN BERG · Concerto for Violin and Orchestra “To the Memory of an Angel” (1935)
GUSTAV MAHLER · Symphony No. 1 in D-major (1885-88)
A programme that draws on the long and proud musical tradition of the orchestra's homeland: with works by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Ján Levoslav Bella, Vladislav Sarissky - and Antonín Dvořák.
JÁN LEVOSLAV BELLA · Concert Overture in E-flat-major (1872-1873)
VLADISLAV ŠARIŠSKÝ · “Spring Jar” (2020, German Premiere)
JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL · Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat-major (1803)
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK · Symphony No. 6 in D-major Op. 60 (1880)
A concert that moves: with music, dance and complementary dialogue, young Afghan musicians talk about resistance, hope and freedom.
TRAD. · “Rag-e Pilo”
AMIR JAN SABOORI · “Sar-zamen-e-man” arr. Tiago Moreira da Silva
AHMAD ZAHIR · “Migam Ke Dustet Dāram” arr. Tiago Moreira da Silva
ZAKHAIL · “Pa Loyo Ghro” arr. Tiago Moreira da Silva
USTAD M. S. SARMAST · “Ay Shakh Gul” arr. Tiago Moreira da Silva
USTAD AWAL MIR · “Mast-e Mang-e” arr. Tiago Moreira da Silva
TRAD. · “Ey Shokh” arr. Tiago Moreira da Silva
TRAD. · “Horse Dance of Badakhshan (Raqs-e Asb)”
Hugo Ticciati has repeatedly provided creative impulses at Young Euro Classic and has earned rave reviews with his original programmes. This year we are finally celebrating the public festival at the Gendarmenmarkt again with the O/Modernt New Generation Symphony Orchestra!
KARL AMADEUS HARTMANN · 3. Satz (Fantasie) aus dem Kammerkonzert für Solo-Klarinette, Streichquartett und Streichorchester (1930-1935)
GIOVANNI GABRIELI · „Sacrae symphoniae“ (1597, Auszüge)
JOHANNES BRAHMS · Sonate für Klarinette und Orchester Nr. 1 f-Moll op. 120 arr. Luciano Berio (1894, Auszüge)
JOHN ADAMS · „Tromba Lontana“ (1986)
GIORA FEIDMAN · „Freilach – Let’s be Happy“ (1986)
ALBERT SCHNELZER · „Through The Eye Of The Pegasus“ (2021)
AARON COPLAND · „Appalachian Spring“ (1943-44)
KARTHIK MANI INDIA ENSEMBLE / O/MODERNT NEW GENERATION SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · A dialogue without words
Here comes rhythm! The internationally celebrated percussionist Karthik Mani presents a unique musical experience of rhythm, energy and tradition together with four young talents from the South Indian Karnataka College of Percussion. The concert will take place in the Werner-Otto-Hall.
Will you be more likely to hear the waves of the Atlantic or the Mediterranean when the Orchestre Français des Jeunes plays Debussy's La mer under its new chief conductor Kristiina Poska?
YAN MARESZ · “Recto” (2003, German Premiere)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART · Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 23 in A-major K. 488 (1786)
CLAUDE DEBUSSY · “La mer” (1903-1905)
GAMBIANA TRIO / ORCHESTRE FRANCAIS DES JEUNES · A dialogue without words
Discover the captivating musical vision of this trio from Gambia and and experience how tradition and modernity are interpreted with unique sounds and innovative compositions at the ensemble concert in the Werner-Otto-Saal!
The Afghan Youth Orchestra in exile comes from a country where all music-making is now banned. After the Taliban seized power again in 2021, the musicians had to flee and found a new home in Portugal. From there, they fight against oblivion: Their programmes set an example for the preservation of authentic Afghan musical traditions and combine them with European orchestral culture.
