The concert is realized thanks to the generous support of a Greek from abroad, who wishes to remain anonymous.
– Gioachino Rossini: Semiramide Overture
– Jean Sibelius: Violin Concerto in d minor
– Robert Schumann: Symphony No 3 in E flat major “Rhenish”
Leonidas Kavakos violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle
Live transmission at the Concert Hall Gardens.
With free admission.
Since 1991, the Berliner Philharmoniker has given an annual “European Concert” on the 1st of May to commemorate the orchestra’s founding. These concerts, which are broadcast worldwide, recall the orchestra’s birth as an independent musical association in 1882 and they also contribute to promoting the idea of Europe. In view of the ongoing political and economic integration taking place within the framework of European unification, the concerts strive to give emphasis to the cultural connections and commonalities shared by all members of the European family.
Each European Concert of the Berliner Philharmoniker takes place in a different European city and is conceived as a television concert. In place of traditional concert halls, historically significant or interesting performance venues are chosen which symbolize exceptional cultural achievements.
The European Concerts are an international media event. Transmitted worldwide by television and radio stations, either live or via delayed broadcast, the performances can be seen and heard by around 500 million people in over 30 countries. During the intermission of the live broadcast, television viewers enjoy a documentary portrait introducing the unique features and distinctive beauty of the concert location.
The Athens Concert Hall is honoured to welcome to its Christos Lambrakis Hall – renowned for its acoustics – the European Concert of the Berliner Philharmoniker. This will be a major cultural event, with the Berlin Philharmonic led by its resident conductor Sir Simon Rattle. The soloist in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto will be Leonidas Kavakos, one of the world’s best violinists.
This is the second time Athens has been selected to host the event; the first was in 2004, at the Herod Atticus Odeon. A great Greek performer, Leonidas Kavakos, will be accompanying the Berlin Philharmonic in Sibelius’ famous Violin Concerto, a work in which Kavakos has won great critical acclaim. At the podium a legendary figure – Sir Simon Rattle, Chief Conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker since 2002.
The concert will be screened live across Greece, France, Germany, Japan, China and South Korea, with internet transmission all around the world. During the interval there will be a special tribute to the city of Athens.
Because the concert is being broadcast live, the audience will be expected to be in their seats on time, by 11:45 at the latest.
Live transmission at the garden sponsored by 