Wiener Philharmoniker

Tugan Sokhiev, conductor; Dvořák / Prokofjew

Die Violinistin Hilary Hahn – Eine Geigerin steht an der Wand gelehnt und schaut in die Kamera.

After its spectacular debut at the Musikfest Berlin in 2024, the Vienna Philharmonic returns in a new guest appearance, on this occasion with the conductor Tugan Sokhiev. The three-time Grammy award winner Hilary Hahn is the soloist in Antonín Dvořák’s brilliant Violin Concerto which guarantees a buoyant lightness not only in its thrilling final movement thanks to the influence of Czech folk dances. Sergei Prokofiev also selected the artistic form of dance for his musical depiction of the probably most famous love story of all time: the ballet Romeo and Juliet based on William Shakespeare.

In the words of Richard Strauss, praising them would be like “carrying violins to Vienna”. There is hardly another symphony orchestra with closer connections to the European history of music than the Vienna Philharmonic. The unique sound of this ensemble steeped in tradition can be heard in combination with Hilary Hahn. For the American star violinist, Dvořák’s Violin Concerto “feels like dancing. Even in the slow sections, it has this lyrical aspect that lilts, even if you’re taking a lot of time on a note.” Prokofiev based his ballet music Romeo and Juliet on the grand ballet tradition of Tchaikovsky and Glazunov, although Prokofiev’s sophisticated dance drama with its sharply defined character studies goes far beyond the older composers’ traditional standards. It is therefore no surprise that Romeo and Juliet from which Prokofiev compiled a total of three suites for the concert hall was considered as one of the most successful dance theatre projects of the 20th century in music history.

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)

Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53 (1879–82)

Sergej Prokofjew (1891–1953)

Romeo und Julia op. 64 (1935) (excerpts)

Artists/Collaborators: Hilary Hahn, Tugan Sokhiev

A Berliner Festspiele / Musikfest Berlin event

Work introduction

19:10, South Foyer

Next date:

• Date Wednesday, 09/September/2026 20:00
• Venue Philharmonie Berlin
• Address Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, 10785 Berlin-Tiergarten