There are classical music fans who are so stressed out by June that they take their annual vacation to be able to attend at least a fraction of the concerts offered in that month. They know full well that things will get even tougher in July and August (Munich Opera Festival, then Salzburg and Bayreuth). But maybe it’s all just a question of training, organization – and of course you need the necessary cash too.
The Munich classical music audience is in for a very ambitious, beautiful marathon in June: The Munich Biennalethe festival for new music theatre. It is virtually replaced by the Nymphenburg Summerthe famous chamber music festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Guests in the Hubertussaal are a piano quartet made up of master students from the famous Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (June 7th), then the Gewandhaus Quartet (June 15th), the young Trio Bohémo from Prague (June 25th), the Isidore String Quartet from New York (June 28th) and the celebrated young baritone Konstantin Krimmel, accompanied by the experienced Gerold Huber on the piano (June 30th).
As far as the great orchestral sound is concerned this June, Sir Simon Rattle and his BR Symphony Orchestra in the Herkulessaal (June 6th and 7th) only standing room tickets are available. There is still a good selection of seats when Daniel Harding leads the BRSO there in place of Franz Welser-Möst (June 13th and 14th). The soloist in the program with Beethoven and Strauss is Leif Ove Andsnes. The Norwegian pianist, who founded a chamber music festival deep in the fjords in his home country, is still remembered as the great accompanist of his compatriot Lise Davidsen in 2022 at the Cuvilliés Theater.
The Chinese classical superstar definitely has a different pianist temperament than the reserved Leif Ove Andsnes. Long longHe will be performing at the Isarphilharmonie on 18 June, with Schumann’s “Kreisleriana” and Chopin’s mazurkas. They have also performed together, the two former child prodigies Lang Lang and Anne-Sophie MutterThe violinist will be playing at the Isarphilharmonie on June 9th, with Fabio Luisi conducting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. As with Lang Lang’s concert, there are currently no tickets left, but you might still be lucky at the box office.
He is currently the most sought-after conductor in the world, we are talking about Klaus Mäkelä. The 28-year-old is Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris, In 2027 he will become the new chief conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and also of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, two of the best orchestras in the world. The “fantastic Finn”, who also faces a lot of resentment because of his youth, will be conducting the Munich Philharmonic on 20 and 22 June in the Isarphilharmonie with Arnold Schönberg’s “Transfigured Night” and Richard Strauss’ “Alpine Symphony”. Like Mäkelä, the Swiss Lorenzo Viotti has had a steep rise. No wonder – his father is the conductor Marcello Viotti, who died young, his mother is a violinist, and his siblings are also professional musicians. The 34-year-old from Lausanne is currently chief conductor of the Dutch National Opera and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, but unlike Mäkelä, he wants to take a step back in the future. Anyone who follows Viotti’s Instagram account, and many do, will suspect why. The man who generously shows off his six-pack athlete’s body there is also a great sportsman and enjoys life. One more reason not to miss Viotti on June 7th and 8th in the Isarphilharmonie. There will be Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances” and “The Bells”. The line-up of singers is also exquisite, with Marina Rebeka, Andrew Staples and Albert Dohmen.