The main focus of the festival are three concerts by and with the American baritone, Thomas Hampson, who recently added a new chapter to his long-term project "Song of America" entitled "A Celebration of Black Music", which he will perform for the first time on European soil together with guest singers such as Louise Toppin, Leah Hawkins, Lawrence Brownlee and Justin Austin. The programme features songs and works mainly by black American 20th century composers, who have rarely been heard in the concert hall hitherto.
Other highlights include the Ensemble Resonanz with Iveta Apkalna, Thomas Hengelbrock and his Balthasar Neumann ensemble, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, once under the baton of chief conductor Alan Gilbert and conducted by Paavo Järvi, the unconventional violinist and Artist in Residence Patricia Kopatchinskaja, and the Belcea Quartet, which will give two recitals of chamber music by Johannes Brahms.
