Dark clouds gathered shortly after the start of the big open air concert at the Wesel shipyard in summer 2018. Sad not only for the many thousands of visitors, but also for the musicians who had long rehearsed on the pieces: Due to an approaching thunderstorm, the event was interrupted and finally cancelled. But even though the evening ended earlier than planned, this did not diminish the wonderful and truly unique atmosphere. So it's no wonder that the Europa Open Air has become a highlight of Frankfurt's music calendar in no time.
It's always a very special summer experience when the Weseler Werft is transformed for one evening into an open air stage for a unique outdoor concert. Classical music in the open air, directly on the banks of the River Main with a view of the skyline - this is sure to attract thousands of enthusiastic visitors from young to old again this year. In 2019, this wonderful concert experience will again simultaneously mark the start of the orchestra's season and the kick-off of the European Central Bank's (ECB) EUROPA CULTURAL DAYS.
It is already something of a tradition that the hr-Bigband will once again be part of the event, opening the open-air concert evening on Thursday, 22 August, at 6 pm. Admission starts at 4 pm, admission is free. It is definitely worth coming early. Because in the past years, around 20,000 enthusiastic concertgoers enjoyed the Europa Open Air. If you want to get a good seat, make sure you get there early.
As part of the ECB's European Cultural Days (22 August - 23 October 2019), which this year celebrate the 20th anniversary of the euro, the Europa Open Air will also be all about Europe and European culture. Led by the music director of the Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Alain Altinoglu, rousing works by European global citizens will be presented from 8.15pm. These include a virtuoso concerto piece by Franz Liszt with renowned pianist Alice Sara Ott and a work by George Frideric Handel. The impressive finale will be the final movement from Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th Symphony, with the choral finale "Freude schöner Götterfunken" known as the "European anthem."
But even the opening is a real treat for the ears: The hr-Bigband has invited star trumpeter Till Brönner. Together they will provide the first musical highlights and a good atmosphere on the Main. Then not only the actual festival area at the Weseler Werft, but also the opposite bank of the Main will fill up quickly. And it is guaranteed that a number of small boats and ships will again stop on the Main to listen to the music, which will first be performed by the hr-Bigband with one of the most successful German jazz musicians and then by the hr-Sinfonieorchester.
Various gastronomic offers will round off the Europa Open Air in good tradition.
The hr-Bigband concert will be available as a video livestream from 6 p.m. on www.hr-bigband.de and www.hr-sinfonieorchester.de as well as time-delayed from 7.04 p.m. on hr2-kultur.
The concert of the hr-Sinfonieorchester is available as a video livestream from 8.15 clock on www.hr-sinfonieorchester.de and www.hr-bigband.de as well as live on hr-fernsehen, hr2-kultur and hr-iNFO.
Europa Open Air - All info at a glance<x><BR</x>
When: Thursday, August 22
Location: Weseler Werft, Frankfurt
Admission: from 4 pm, free
Moderation: Andrea Ballschuh
6 pm: hr-Bigband feat. Till Brönner (Till Brönner, trumpet; Magnus Lindgren, conductor)
20.3 p.m.: hr-Sinfonieorchester (Alice Sara Ott, piano; Julia Kleiter, soprano; Nora Gubisch, mezzo-soprano; Eric Cutler, tenor; Paul Gay, baritone; Chœur de la Monnaie; Alain Altinoglu, conductor)
