September saw the start of MDR Klassik’s musical journey for this season, Go North! and December 4 heralds the beginning of the Northern Lights Festival. Curated by Kristjan Järvi, it is the first of four such festivals taking place throughout the current season and showcases an innovative and exciting new programming concept.
With ten concerts over as many days, the Northern Lights Festival will immerse Leipzig in the enthralling musical world of the North, with concerts in alternative venues throughout the city and repertoire as magical, breathtaking and soul-stirring as the ‘auroras’ themselves.
This major celebration of northern culture will fuse masterpieces by Grieg, Rachmaninov, Brahms, Mussorgsky, Handel, Sibelius, Stravinsky and Nielsen with the mesmerizing sounds of Esa-Pekka Salonen (MDR’s featured composer), Erkki-Sven Tüür, Eduard Tubin, Johan Halvorson and the ethereal music of Arvo Pärt, Geirr Tveitt and Sigur Ros’s Jónsi.
International soloists including violinist Julia Fischer and YouTube phenomenon Valentina Lisitsa (piano) headline the festival, alongside Swedish classical/folk singer Maria Johansson Josephsson, nyckelharpa virtuoso Torbjörn Näsbom, composer/bandoneon master Per Arne Glorvigen and Norwegian sisters Eldbjørg & Ragnhild Hemsing, performing on their national instrument the Hardanger fiddle. Valentina Lisitsa, as well as performing Grieg’s piano concerto, will even be hosting a Late Night Piano evening where she will take Rachmaninov requests.
This is a Festival not to be missed!
MDR Klassik and Kristjan Järvi will present three further festivals this season, with world-class soloists and concert programmes reflecting the wonder of the North.
Northern Lights Festival, December 4-14 | Ice Festival, January 16-25 | Spring Fever Festival, April 4-25 | Mid-Summer Festival, June 21-July 3