Celestial Journeys

The SWR Symphony Orchestra has always maintained a committed balance between traditional and contemporary music. French repertoire is more prominent than in other top German orchestras. Sylvain Cambreling, its chief conductor since 1999, fortifies the orchestra's Francophile tradition "with refined interpretations, from Rameau to Grisey". He conducts a programme about celestial journeys: Messiaen's orchestral works, which refer in their titles to these journeys - including the concert of the creatures who sing down from heaven, translated for human ears; and the Bruckner symphony, which in its initial motif sets the direction of thought for the whole work: upwards, towards life.

The Berliner Festspiele bring together a seemingly endless variety of arts and culture under one roof each year in Berlin. It was founded in West Berlin in 1951. Throughout the year, festivals, program series, and individual events enrich the cultural scene of the city. The festivals include performances of music, theater, dance, and literature.